Afghan Assignment

Version for "Tales of the Veils" website.
Not for reproduction on other websites or in any other publishing format without author's permission.

1. Into Afghanistan

"Afghanistan. Shit!" between the two words a bump is heard and the
next minute consists only the roaring sound of an old truck braking
with the engine, supplemented from time to time by a whining sound,
when the normal brakes were engaged shortly. Then the recording was
interrupted and the next one started playing "Afghanistan 2016. April
14 Monday. I Martha Miller, U.S. citizen, left the boarder from
Pakistan at the Khyber Pass at 8:30 a.m. Now I'm driving towards Kabul.
This is the first of my reports from my search for Ellen Jasper. I have
crossed the boarder as Nadira, first wife of Nur Muhammad, a tradesman
working with import / export from Pakistan." Martha finds the recording
ok. This will explain to Senator Jasper how far she had got, if he ever
receives it, and it will identify her to rescuers, if something happens
to her. Due to occasional fighting, little international support and
natural causes the road conditions in Afghanistan especially in the
mountains are extremely dangerous on their own. Added to this she is
driving in an old truck left by the Russians before 1990, and driven by
a man, who believe Allah has decided when he is going to die, which
means taking some chances doesn't make any difference. Her back still
hurts from the blow she got, being thrown into the side of the truck,
when they made that large bump that spoiled the first recording. She
considers shortly erasing this recording, but there is no need to. A
minute compared with the recording capacity of the device is nothing.
But except for being used as base of her report or only documentation,
if she fail to do a report, the primary purpose of the recorder is to
have Ellen talk to her parents, if she finds her alive, and she doesn't
want to come with her back to the States. She has a very small camera
as well, camouflaged as a lighter, but it is stowed away at the bottom
of a pocket in her bag. She will only use it to document to Senator
Jasper that she has found Ellen by photographing her with a new paper
or magazine. Mr. Jasper has demanded an old-fashioned film camera,
where he will get a negative, which is difficult to manipulate. The
camera must only be used at the right moment, because image recording
devices are completely forbidden to posses in Afghanistan. She won't
advertise her voice recorder either. But if someone sees it and asks
about it, it's a portable player to strengthen her faith, as it
contains some speeches by conservative American Muslims, that
corresponds well with the attitude of most Afghans.

She has shown it to Nur Muhammad and Sultana, formally his second wife,
but in reality his only wife, who is sitting next to her on top of the
bags, which is the cargo of this truck. She had simply asked the
receptionist at her hotel in Peshawar, if he could find someone that
could take her into Afghanistan. Nur Muhammad was the ideal business
partner. They had met in the hotel lobby and he had told about his
businesses. The trade company was a completely legal reason for often
crossing the boarder, and made a little surplus as well. But his major
income had started two years ago, when Nadira sadly died of pneumonia
during the winter. She was buried in silence and without informing the
authorities. Now Nur Muhammad on each of his boarder crossings could
bring a woman, or man if they paid extremely well, who for some reason
couldn't cross the boarder legally, because he had papers showing that
he had two wives, who each time were travelling with him. It didn't
matter that the customer didn't look like Nadira at all, even had the
wrong sex, because all women around here, and especially in Afghanistan
where it was obligatory, were completely covered in a burqa, which no
one controlling papers would ask to be lifted. In case of a very strict
inspection, where female officials questioned the women, Sultana would
answer and could tell everything about the family, their origin and
destination, nearly without lying. Martha had immediately realised,
that she will be completely safe with Nur Muhammad regarding
authorities. Further he speaks excellent English and Sultana was quite
good as well. Of course when they came to the payment Nur Muhammad
stated he had hundreds of potential customers, which was probably not
far from the truth, and being American Martha presented a greater risk
than most, because everybody still remembered the American occupation,
which only ended six years ago. But Martha could afford to be generous.
Travel expenses, which Senator Jasper would pay and had made an account
she could draw from, were nothing compared to her own salary, where she
had demanded and got ten million dollars.

After the failures in Iraq and Afghanistan American business had
suffered as well, and it wasn't more than five to six million euro, but
it was enough for her to live happily for the rest of her life, or to
ensure that her parents could stop worrying about money, and get the
help they needed, when they got really old. Senator Jasper had accepted
without hesitation. He was well into international affairs, and because
of his daughter, followed the situation in Afghanistan especially
close. It is extremely dangerous travelling in Afghanistan. The risk of
natural deadly accidents is much higher than most other countries.
Added to this is the risk of being at the wrong place at the wrong
time, when a tribal conflict brakes out or a warlord will demonstrate
his power. Then there are mines and other explosives from decades of
war scattered all over. Further even minor violations of the strict
laws could result in severe penalties, and then most Afghans don't like
foreigners, or ferenghis as they call them. And even with an Afghan
identity, as she has now, she could meet hostile people, who doesn't
like the ethnic group or tribe, she pretends to be part of. Knowing how
well Senator Jasper knew the situation, and his immediate acceptance,
had made Martha worry, if she herself had understood the risk she had
accepted. But she has a few good sides to counteract all the dangers.
First of all she is Muslim, which means she can participate at prayers
on equal terms and speak a little Arabic. Then she is black. If she has
to show her face, she doesn't look like the stereotype white
businessman or politician, or his wife, who wants to dominate
everywhere with money and technology. Hopefully everybody has forgot
out here that Condoleeza Rice ever existed. And then of course she is a
woman. That was why Senator Jasper had selected her. A woman will have
a chance of getting access to other women, a man is completely ruled
out. This might be necessary both to confirm information she got from
others, and if Ellen is held prisoner among women living in purdah,
only a woman might be able to get to her. But of course there are
problems being a woman as well. Women can't travel alone or with
strange men. They can't meet or make appointments with men on their
own. She has to trust men like Nur Muhammad, who are willing to break
the strict moral laws, and hope he only arrange meetings with others,
who think likewise. But as only very few Americans get a visa for
Afghanistan, any American looking for Ellen, would have to enter and
stay illegally.
Martha looks at Sultana through the mesh of her burqa. It's close to
noon and it's getting hot sitting directly in the sun, even if they are
up in the mountains, covered in this tent of thick clothes. Further she
is completely covered under the burqa, because at close range some
features and the colour of the skin can be seen through the mesh. And
because Martha doesn't look like a typical Afghan, which some claim are
the origin of the Caucasian race, Sultana had suggested that they
should dress like strict women covering their hands, feet and face
beneath the burqa. Many women, although without burqa, are completely
veiled indoors in women-only company as well, she was told. So to avoid
showing non-Afghan features they both wear socks and gloves and a thin
see-through scarf veil, which can be pulled over their entire face,
when close to men. Right now Martha's scarf is just folded around her
neck, but it all prevents her sweat from evaporating. Of course Martha
as a Muslim knows that complete veiling is a good thing, but apart from
being hot, it makes most kinds of work impossible. Martha comes from a
society, where women work just as much as men. Martha has worn a
headscarf since she was eighteen, but she has never veiled her face
before. All the clothes she is wearing now, except her underwear, comes
from Sultana. If she has borrowed it or bought it, isn't really clear.
When she has to depart with Nur Muhammad, she will have to wait and see
what mood he is in, if he wants extra pay for the clothes or not.
Martha will like to keep it. She has to wear Afghan clothes for the
rest of her stay here, both because it's more or less a requirement,
and next because it makes her as unobtrusive as possible. And if she
comes back to Pakistan, it's a nice souvenir from the job that made her
rich. But she considers hiring Nur Muhammad and Sultana for her
investigations as well. They have made it their business helping
illegal travellers, which means that they won't give her in to the
authorities. She needs a husband to do anything in this country, an
interpreter, a local to make inquiries and a female interpreter as
well. They can take all roles, and the fewer people she needs to
contact, and she has to tell, who she real is, the better are her
chances of not getting caught.
Ellen Jasper has not contacted her parents for nearly a year. At 21,
four years ago, she met an Afghan, Nazrullah, at college. Three month
later he had got an engineering degree, they got married and moved to
Afghanistan. Her parents had done anything to persuade them to stay in
the U.S, but in vain. Ellen wanted to get away from boring towns,
boring salesmen and a boring middle-class future. Nazrullah was a very
charming internationally oriented young man, and his home country was
an exotic place, as far from typical American life as possible. Ellen
had written enthusiastic letters, as internet access is only possible
in a few government offices. Living was basic down to earth without
dependency on television and a lot of electronic gadgets. People were
friendly, happy and satisfied with their conditions, even though they
were poor compared to the average American. Ellen knew before she left
America, that she would be Nazrullah's second wife, as young men always
are married by their parents before being sent out of the country to
take an education and experience other cultures. She and her co-wife,
Karima, had similar age and liked each other. Karima had taught her the
local language, Pashto, and about Islam, to which she had converted
after a year. Six month later they had got a letter with a photo
showing her in local dress, where only hands and face were seen. She
wrote it would be her last photo, as cameras for private use were
prohibited, because photographing people were against Islam. But
Nazrullah didn't care. He liked making photos, and had a special
license to photograph his constructions. But from time to time he
brought the camera home, and photographed other things and people. When
being photographed Ellen had objected, but as the damage had been done,
she might as well send the photo. In the first two and a half years in
Afghanistan Ellen had not spend so much time with Nazrullah, as he
always was travelling around the country inspecting construction sites.
But then eighteen months ago they got a letter saying she was looking
forward to spending much more time with Nazrullah from now on, because
nearly all his work was at sites in Kabul. And then her last letter was
very short just saying that all is well. So short and different from
the other letters, that it had to mean that something was wrong.
Because of that Senator Jasper had decided he wanted someone from his
own country out there investigating and documenting what had happened
to Ellen. He wouldn't trust results coming from an Afghan or even
Pakistani investigation bureau. Nazrullah and his family were rich
influential people, who could buy any sort of result they wanted.

Martha had a simple plan: Find Nazrullah and ask him. But in case
Nazrullah had done something to Ellen, and didn't want to tell the
truth, she wouldn't meet him in person from the start. She would send
someone, who couldn't be linked to her, not even Nur Muhammad, if he
agreed to stay as her 'husband' and assistant. Then the answer
Nazrullah gave would decide her next step.

The clock has just passed noon. The truck stops in the middle of
nowhere. It's time for prayer and lunch. Martha haven't got used to
eating inside a burqa. She declines the sandwiches, and just drinks a
can of orange juice with a straw. As soon as they are back on top of
the load driving on, Sultana, who has travelled here many times,
stretches out on her back and falls asleep. As they have been up early,
it seems a good idea. When Martha wakes they are only one hour from
Kabul. As part of the transportation Nur Muhammad has agreed, that
Martha can stay in his home for some days, until she has found someone
to help her. They arrive at his house late in the evening. After
praying Nur Muhammad goes out to buy some ready-to-eat food, Martha is
shown the guest room, and soon after eating they are sleeping.

2. Kabul

The next morning after prayer and breakfast Nur
Muhammad leaves the house to find a new cargo to take to Pakistan.
Martha says to Sultana "Can we go out and see the town? Do you know
where the central market square is? I've been promised there is a
Pakistani bank there, where I have an account, and where women are
tolerated as customers." Sultana says "Yes, this is Kabul, the most
liberal town in the country, and perhaps the only one where women can
walk around without a male escort, as long as we are at least two
women. Don't worry about distances and finding places. We hire a horse
cart." They dress like the previous day with veil and gloves beneath
the burqa. Sultana says as they are ready to leave the house "I hope we
don't need to have a detailed look at something, because it is not
possible through these veils. And don't remove your veil under the
burqa, while we ride, like yesterday. It's a busy place, and people
will pass close by all the time. Kabul is liberal, but even then women
don't speak in public, when there are men close by. Many women don't
speak at all in public. If you want to say something tap me, then I'll
find somewhere, where it's appropriate to speak."

After walking for a few minutes they reach a main road, where they
after a few more minutes are able to stop a two-wheeled horse drawn
cart. They get up on the board at the back made for passengers, and
Sultana says a few words to the driver. Then they start moving, and
Martha can get a dark blurred view of the road they have just
travelled, as they sit facing opposite the direction they are moving.
But there are other advantages of being covered, than avoiding male
stares and complying with the religious rules. Most of the ground
including the roads are covered by a thick layer of dirty brown dust,
that fills the air as well, and is blown towards them by the slightest
wind. A thick burqa keeps the body free from dust, but for the next
trip you either need a large wardrobe, to wash frequently, or as it
seems most people do, wear dirty clothes from the beginning.

After twenty minutes the cart stops. Sultana pays the driver, and they
get off. Turning round Martha sees they are at the edge of a large
square with market stalls covering the major part of it. Martha looks
at the buildings surrounding the square, but is only able to see the
signs directly at the corners of the road they arrived by. Martha taps
Sultana. Sultana walks up to the wall of the nearest building and sits
down as far from doors as possible. Martha sits next to her saying "How
do we find the bank? I can't see signs more than ten yards away."
Sultana says "Do you have a brochure or receipt showing the bank's name
and logo?" Martha looks in her bag for a minute, and then produces a
receipt. Sultana folds it, so the large number cashed are hidden, and
says "We find a boy." They get up and look out over the square. Just
twenty yards in front of them walks a boy with a box selling
cigarettes. Sultana walks over to him and shows him the receipt. He
starts pointing across the square. Sultana hands him some coins, and as
he sees the amount, he smiles and it is evident to Martha he asks, if
he should take them there. Sultana nods, and skilled he finds an open
path across the square. It is evident he often guides women with
reduced sight. In less than five minutes he points to a large sign
above a typical bank entrance with double doors, that won't open
simultaneously. Sultana makes a light bow and they enter.

There are three empty manned desks, but a line of three women at
another desk. Sultana line up with the women. Martha quickly notes that
blue burqas come in very different qualities. And those in front of
them are the cheapest. It is probably widows or divorced women, who
gets a small amount regularly from some distant family members or
perhaps the state. And of course women living with a guardian close by
would probably have him to control their money. As the next in line
shows her papers, Martha sees why all the women are here. The clerk
turns his back to the customer and a girl, who has been sitting hidden
behind the desk, appears. The woman at the desk lifts her burqa, and
the girl compares her with her identity card. While the woman puts her
burqa down again, the girl taps the clerk on the shoulder and sits down
again. At the desk Martha shows her American passport along with her
account information. The clerk says a few words in Pashto and leaves.
After a minute he is back and gestures her to come to an office at the
back. A senior employee, perhaps the head of the department, comes out
and says in English "Please enter Miss Miller." As Martha hears
English, she lifts her burqa enough to get an arm free and gestures
Sultana to take a seat at the entrance. Inside the office Martha flips
the front of her burqa back and pulls the scarf over her face down. The
man says "Our headquarters in Pakistan has informed us, that we could
expect a single American woman coming here. This hasn't passed
unnoticed. I'm the head of our activities in Afghanistan. How may I
serve you?" Martha says "It's very simple. I want some cash." A
quarter, a cup of tea and some conversation about the latest news from
American entertainment later, Martha gets up from her chair in the
office with an amount corresponding to one years salary of an average
Afghan worker saying "Thank you very much. It was a lovely tea. I will
certainly report your excellent service, when I return to Pakistan. But
it is very likely, that I'll come back here before that. Goodbye."
Martha pulls her burqa down, while the manager says "In case you return
just whisper my name to the guard at the entrance, then you don't have
to wait in line." The manager calls for a clerk, who escorts Martha to
the entrance and opens the doors. Sultana has kept her eyes on the
office and follows her out.

Outside Martha immediately pads Sultana's arm through her burqa.
Sultana starts walking further round the square. After a few minutes
walking they turn away from the square and are suddenly surrounded by
more women than men. They pass an opening in a wall, where a woman is
sitting in an empty stall. After passing the woman Sultana starts
talking "We are now in the Women's Park, a walled area where no men are
allowed. Did you get what you wanted in the bank? And what do you want
to ask?" Martha looks around at all the women, perhaps as many as
hundred. She sees many women with burqas lifted, and even some sitting
on benches with their burqa over their lap. There are small children of
both sexes, and young girls wrapped in white scarves from the waist and
up, only leaving sparkling eyes to be seen. Only a few women show their
faces. Most having their burqa flipped back are covered in scarves with
a small eye slit or a thin cloth covering the entire face. There are
even some wearing a niqab under their burqa. And quite many wear their
burqa down like among the men. Martha notes that the vast majority of
burqas are blue, then white is a clear second and many other colours
can be seen, but only a few of each.

Martha first asks "Why don't we flip our burqas back?" Sultana says
"You don't want to attract attention, do you? Many people with
unobstructed sight pass close by here, and your veil is too thin to
hide that you look different. But as you can see many wear their burqas
down, and like us come here only to talk. Besides some of them, who
lifts their burqa, do it to actually see a little of the world outside
their house, and perhaps those who are with them. Many pious and
conservative women are blind, when walking among men. In the south of
the country all women in towns except the poorest and maids and
servants are blind in public. It is very likely that we see some of
them visiting family up here. Look!" Sultana nods towards two women
moving in a close line behind a girl of perhaps ten. Their arms are
stretched forward under their burqa touching the person in front of
them. Soon they disappear out in the male world. Martha says "Well, I
guess I can't complain about the poor sight we have anymore. But yes,
there were no problems in the bank, but I had to come up with some
scandals from Hollywood to turn the manager around my finger. Now I
want to get back to ask your husband, if he wants to help me further. I
thought if we might be able to drive past the house of Nazrullah, just
passing by would let me get an idea of how big he is compared to the
houses we've seen so far. Is it possible?" Sultana says "I would think
it is possible. He sounds to me as a man important enough to be known
by all cart drivers. But first I suppose his house is in the rich
quarter of town, where someone in a cart might stir just as much
attention, as a car will do, where we live. Second if Nazrullah wants
to find out, who make inquiries about him, he will soon find out a cart
has been at his house and find the driver, who will tell where he took
us. We'll have to walk for a long time, if it won't lead to our house.
The streets are full of beggars, widows and boys having nothing else to
do than observing, who comes and goes. If you do not want to be
connected to Nazrullah, I suggest we go directly back and discuss with
Nur Muhammad, how to get the information you want." Martha turns
towards the entrance saying "You have learned something from all those
unofficial activities I think. I like that. Let's get back to your
house." Half an hour later they are at Sultana's home.

Only an hour after lunch Nur Muhammad comes home. Sultana is surprised,
as men are normally out all day. "I didn't succeed in finding a new
cargo for Pakistan today. Afghanistan produces very little wanted in
the outside world," Nur Muhammad says in a sad voice. Martha says "What
a shame. But perhaps I can offer you a little money, if you put aside
your export business for some days, and helps me in my search for Ellen
Jasper. In this society I will probably need a man doing some of my
inquiries. A Pashto speaking man. And the identity of your late wife
has worked so well until now. I would like to rent it a little longer.
And as a woman can only be accompanied by her husband, or needs his
approval, it means I needs you to accompany me. And I need Sultana. I
need a native woman to speak with Pashto speaking women. Sultana speaks
good English as well, and has flair for investigations. I offer you
twice your normal income paid on a weekly basis in advance." Nur
Muhammad's sadness is completely gone, but he says "Well, but you see I
did have a talk with a man, who had a large cargo for Pakistan, but
those owning the merchandise wasn't sure, if it was the right time for
selling. If my contact can convince the sellers, I might have to pay to
get out of my part of the deal. And having you staying here puts us in
danger, if your true identity is revealed. And we will have to buy
extra food every day. But for four weeks pay for a week, I will
consider your proposal." Sultana is outraged by her husbands wild
demands, but says nothing. Martha says "Well I can raise my offer, if
you only work for me for as long as I stay in Afghanistan, and accept
to start immediately. Then it's three for one, and I pay travel
expenses, which I fear might be needed." Nur Muhammad says "It is
admirable that you are willing to extent your offer, but there might be
factors I haven't thought about. Is it ok, if you get my answer by noon
tomorrow?" But now Sultana says something very loud very fast in
Pashto. After a minute Nur Muhammad continues in English "My wife is
willing to take the risk. She thinks we can get a new house in a better
part of town, if you stay here for a few weeks. Sometimes it's vice to
follow the intuition of women, even if they can't think of all the
consequences. I am your employee. What can I do for you?" Martha puts
up a big smile, and puts her right hand forward saying "Deal! But I
would like to see you and Sultana more as partners than as employees.
First it would be nice with coffee. Then I would like to know how we
get information about Ellen from Nazrullah without letting him know,
it's her father, who has started an investigation?" While talking she
has shaken hands with Sultana as well. Sultana starts making coffee.

Martha walks over to her bag, and takes up some money. She hands them
to Nur Muhammad saying "The start of our partnership." Nur Muhammad
flick through the bundle and says "I know the responsible for the mail
at the Swedish embassy. How about saying you're that female journalist,
who wrote about Afghan women just after the American invasion, and now
have returned to write about Western women living in Afghanistan today?
You have heard Nazrullah is married to an American and want to talk
with her. When it comes from an embassy, I think he will have to answer
and come up with some explanation. If he says, she is not with him
anymore, you answer you would like to meet him to hear about her story.
Then we arrange a meeting in a hotel lobby, where he can't play tricks
with us without a lot of attention probably from foreigners." Martha
says "It might work. I've read 'The Bookseller of Kabul'. I rely on
your knowledge of the character of Afghan men. I can't think of
anything better, and we have to confront Nazrullah somehow to get the
truth about why Ellen has stopped corresponding with her parents. Can
we get started today?" Nur Muhammad says "In some ways things work fast
here. Official mail isn't reliable, which means everyone who can afford
it use delivery boys, which for the rich are cheap. Embassies of course
do like that. And Nazrullah. I talk with my friend at the embassy and
get the paper right away. If we are lucky, we have a response today."
Martha says "Please get going."
After an hour Nur Muhammad is back. Handing some sheets of official
embassy paper to Martha he says "My contact luckily needs extra money
for his wedding and is working both this evening and tomorrow." Martha
has soon composed a letter and hands it to Nur Muhammad, who leaves
once more to find a delivery boy. Forty minutes later the door bell
rings. Nur Muhammad answers, and a minute later says to Martha "We
might have been lucky. The delivery boy talked with Nuzrallah's maid,
who said Nuzrallah was out of town for the moment, but she would hand
it to his wife immediately. Does this mean we have reached Ellen?"
Martha says "I'm afraid not. I told you Nazrullah has an Afghan wife,
he married before he went to America. But it might be even better
talking with her than with Nazrullah. Let's hope she answers."

She does. It's half past nine in the evening, when Nur Muhammad answers
the door. Sultana listening to his conversation with the delivery boy
says to Martha "He comes from the Swedish embassy. He says he was told
we would pay him. Nur Muhammad pays him double, and tells him not to
talk about this delivery to anyone." Nur Muhammad hands the letter to
Martha, who reads 'Dear Anna Sorensen. I Karima, the first wife of
Nazrullah, write to you because my husband is out of town, and won't
come back in a week. It is true my husband married an American woman,
but she is not part of our family anymore. As I understand your letter
you are interested in both happy and unhappy stories about foreign
women in Afghanistan. I will be happy to tell you about my co-wife, but
I can't invite a foreigner into my house without my husband's approval.
But as we are both women, I can meet you in the Women's Park in the
centre of town tomorrow. I will be at the far end between ten and
eleven in the morning dressed entirely in pink beneath a white burqa.
If you are unable to come, please send someone to make another
appointment. Yours sincerely Karima.' Martha hands the letter to Nur
Muhammad, and says to Sultana "We're going to the Park again tomorrow."

3. Meeting a friendly wife

The next morning at a quarter
to ten Sultana and Martha enter the Park dressed as the days before.
Martha wonders about how many variations there can be of a blue burqa.
"Is that how women recognize each other?" she asks Sultana. "No it's
only necessary with conservative women, who never let their burqa off
the ground. Most women are identified by their shoes. From the shoes
you can often tell, if the wearer is young or old, and first of all
they tell about the position in society. I can tell you a lot about the
women that surrounds us, even if I don't know them." Five minutes past
ten Sultana says "Look over there to the right. Don't you think that's
Karima?" Martha turns her head and sees a white silk burqa of the
finest quality, but what catches the eye is that the front is flipped
back and all that shows is pink. A pink dress with a little gold
embroidery down to a pair of white shoes. And a pink scarf covering the
entire head and neck. Next to her is a woman in a black dress and black
scarves showing her eyes. And down her back an average blue burqa.

Martha walks directly over in front of the pink woman and bows her head
a little saying in English "I presume you are Karima, wife of
Nazrullah?" The pink face turns directly towards Martha saying "I am.
But who are you? I have a copy of 'The Bookseller of Kabul' and it is
not written by Anna Sorensen from Sweden, but by a Norwegian. Are you
searching for Ellen?" Martha says "You are right. My name is Martha
Miller from United States. And yes I'm send here by Senator Jasper. Do
you know where Ellen is?" Karima says "I'm not in contact with her. But
I know where she went, and I believe she is still there. But now that I
know what it's about, I think it's ok to invite you home, where we
perhaps can see each other. As wife of a man at the top of our society,
I can't show my face in many places outside our home, as this could
question my husband's reputation and honour. And you and your friend
are covered in here as well." Martha says "It's Sultana my female
Afghan partner. We both cover to avoid that I as a foreigner would
attract unwanted attention. We would be happy to come to your home and
hear about Ellen. When will it be convenient?" Karima says "Now. I have
a car waiting outside. Is it ok with you?" Martha says "It couldn't be
better. Let's walk." Karima says "Wonderful. My maid will handle
everything, until we're at my home."

Karima and her maid both flips their burqas down. Martha immediately
notes it's the ground touching conservative style, that Sultana talked
about as they entered the park. Karima walks very carefully following
right behind her maid. Martha guesses she can't see much through the
combined burqa mesh and the thick pink scarf. Just to the right of the
park entrance a driver is waiting in an expensive car. As the maid
comes up to him, he gets out and opens the back seat door. Karima gets
in and moves to the opposite door. Martha and Sultana follow her. While
the driver closes the door, the maid enters the front passenger seat.
After less than a quarter they drive through a large gate opening
automatically after the driver has pushed a button in the car.

After crossing a couple of large rooms they enter an inner yard with a
large roof opening. An area the size of a large living room is covered
and as such in shadow. Here the maid lifts her burqa, gestures the
guests to do likewise and sit down on cushions at a low table. Karima
has flipped back her burqa as well, but continues through a door to
their left. The maid says in an accented English "Coffee or tea?"
Martha says "Coffee please." Sultana says something in Pashto, and the
maid leaves. Sultana says "I told her I would translate, if she wanted
to say something to you."

After five minutes both Karima and the coffee arrives. Martha and
Sultana has kept their gloves on and the thin scarves over their heads,
but Karima now shows her hands and her head is covered in thin white
scarves showing her eyes. She says "Welcome to my home. I'm always
covered like this to be prepared for everything. But I only cover, when
it doesn't interfere too much with what I'm doing. So if you don't
mind, I think we shall show our faces now while drinking coffee."
Martha says while she and Sultana flips their see-through scarves back
"Fine with me. Covering is not my usual way of dressing, as you might
have guessed." Karima pulls the scarf covering her nose and mouth down
around her neck, and both her and Martha looks surprised at each other.
Karima says "Now I understand why you cover your face beneath a burqa.
There are not many women in Afghanistan with that skin colour." Martha
says "I've been told, but have forgotten, that you are no older than
Ellen. But nobody has told me that you are extremely beautiful." Karima
says "Thank you. Westerners are often surprised at our combination of
youth and maturity. But don't forget that when you fool around in high
school, an Afghan woman has often been married and running a house for
a number of years, besides having several children."

They drink coffee and eat biscuits in silence for a while. Then Karima
says "Are you ready to hear about Ellen?" Martha says "Yes please. But
if you don't mind I'd like to record your story to be able to review
any information in case my investigation gets stuck." Karima says "I
don't mind. I assume you have read Ellen's letters to her parents.
Although I haven't directly read them, I am sure they tell the truth,
except perhaps for the last one, because Ellen and I were very close
right from the moment Nazrullah brought her to this house. She was from
the beginning very interested in Afghan life and culture, and very fast
in learning Pashto, I would say, even if I don't know how other
foreigners manage. We were all very happy, when she converted to Islam,
which she in fact had read much more about than Nazrullah and I. In a
way it's because of me she left. We had visited all sorts of family and
friends, with whom we often discussed religion, because none of us were
much interested in fashion. Nazrullah can afford to let us buy anything
we want. We do not cook and have no personal experience with children.
The only subject left to discuss, in which Afghan women have some sort
of education, is Islam. It often proved that Ellen had the most modest,
pious and strict views among the women present. When I think back the
first sign was, that she started wearing gloves nearly always, in stead
of only in public as I do. And then she never removed her scarf over
mouth and nose, only lifting it to eat or drink. Shortly after she
started wearing a see-through cloth over her entire head like you do,
but not only to be completely unseen in public, but to closely follow
the writings of some strict Mullahs. It was about a month before
Nazrullah ended his endless travelling that Ellen said to me 'We have
visited almost everyone you know around Kabul and even further away,
but none of them seem to live the way the Mullahs and scholars tell us
to do. You and Nazrullah are formed by a liberal Western influenced
upbringing, and do not take religion very serious. I've heard that down
south around Kandahar it's much more strict. But when we had your
brother-in-law and his family from Kandahar visiting, there wasn't much
time for serious discussions, and it seemed that they had adopted the
more relaxed dress-code of Kabul, when coming here. Don't you know a
strict pious family, who try to follow the Mullahs as close as
possible?'

It was then I said I've heard sheik Rashid al Abdul from Kandahar is
staying in Kabul for the moment, because he was mentioned as a major
contributor to a local madrasa, and he was praised for his generous
support to strict scholars and religious institutions for many years.
From the madrasa I got his address here in Kabul, and Ellen and I
visited his wives. It was evident from the first minutes that Ellen had
found someone sharing her views, and she was extremely excited because
these were Afghans, not claiming they were strict, but only living
according to century old traditions and religious values. The first
visit lasted more than four hours and many followed. When I think back,
I never saw the wives of sheik Rashid al Abdul without burqa, even in
their own home. We had to keep our burqas on as well, and when they
visited here Ellen put on a burqa, and said it would be offending, if I
showed myself without, so I put it on as well. The meetings with the
sheik's wives lasted more than a month, then his business here was
over, and they went home to Kandahar. Meanwhile Nazrullah was home much
more than previously, and Ellen spend a lot of time trying to convince
him and me, that we should read the scriptures, and start living a more
pious life. The break came because of two close incidents. Ellen got
extremely mad one day Nazrullah surprised her with his camera taking a
picture in a private moment, when she for some reason had neither hands
nor face covered. And Nazrullah became mad a few days later, when Ellen
for a picnic showed up in a Kandahar burqa, which removes all senses,
claiming she had decided never to look at or speak or listen to men in
public anymore. Her husband was the only male existing to her. And she
would prefer only to meet women from respectable families individually
approved by Nazrullah. After arguing for an hour the picnic was dropped
and Nazrullah ended saying, that if she wished a life so extreme, she
had to find another husband. A week later Nazrullah entered this room
extremely angry and waving a paper. He dropped the paper, found a burqa
and pulled Ellen out to the entrance, while she put the burqa on. Out
there was our driver and another man to be witnesses, and Nazrullah
just said three times 'I divorce you.' Back here I picked up the paper,
which was a letter from sheik Rashid al Abdul saying, that he would
gladly accept Ellen as his wife, as she wished, if Nazrullah would
divorce her, so everything was completely legal. Ellen was relieved,
the arguing was over. She hugged me and said that even if we had
different opinions especially regarding religion, she loved me, and
hoped we would stay friends. I said yes, and she asked me to contact
the sheik, so she could be married again. It wasn't necessary.
Nazrullah cared so much for Ellen, that he would help her start her new
life. But Ellen stayed in her room the few times Nazrullah entered the
female section, while she was still here. I had to forward Nazrullah's
messages. Ellen said to me, she couldn't see Nazrullah now, that she
wasn't his wife anymore. Fortunately she had not been divorced for 48
hours, when the sheik arrived, and took her with him. But although
Ellen and I separated as friends, I haven't been in contact with her
since she left."

After a minute of silence, where they all think about what Karima has
said, Sultana breaks the silence "I think we can rule out that
Nazrullah has killed her. In fact there are very good chances, that she
is still alive." "Killed her!" Karima says in an upset voice,
continuing "Why should he had killed her. I would never live with a
husband, who kills wives or daughters, that don't do as he wishes."
Martha says "Sultana is referring to a theory of Senator Jasper. A
possible reason why Ellen had stopped writing, was that she was dead.
And if she had died in an accident, Nazrullah would have informed her
parents. There exist many cases, where foreign women have been killed
by their husbands, because they couldn't submit to his will." Karima
says "Yes it's a tough country. One of few countries with more guns per
inhabitant than United States. But I assure you, Nazrullah is not like
that. And neither sheik Rashid al Abdul for the little I know about
him. But I've been talking for so long. We all need some refreshment.
Would you like to stay for lunch?" Martha says "I believe you have told
the truth. We have come a large step further in finding Ellen. But as
it seems we have to leave Kabul to find her, it won't be today, and
then we have plenty of time for lunch. Thank you very much."

After a few moments in the kitchen door Karima says "The maid has
expected you to stay. Lunch is ready. But even if my story about Ellen
show me as moderate Muslim, I do like to pray five times a day. I hope
you'll excuse us for some minutes Martha." Martha says "No I won't. I
will join you. We are Muslim sisters." Karima says "What a wonderful
surprise. Senator Jasper is a wise man hiring a black Muslim woman.
Come let's wash!" Karima leads the prayer, which Martha feels lasts
longer than Karima would have done on her own, because it's now an act
of unification and Muslim sisterhood. But Martha can't pray enough. If
she should make up for all the prayers, she has skipped, she would have
to pray continuously for several years. During the lovely lunch Ellen
isn't a subject. It's mostly Karima asking. She wants to hear about the
new soaps running in the States. They have a TV, a satellite receiver
and a video player, but the government blocks signals from non-Muslim
stations, resulting in Karima watching pirate discs from Pakistan with
old American soaps. Martha has difficulties remembering what happened,
even in a series she has seen, when Karima asks her to follow up on a
short resume of a few episodes of a more than five year old show.

After lunch they are served coffee again. Martha says "It has been a
wonderful day, but we must get back to Sultana's husband, and start
planning how to get to Kandahar."

Karima says "I don't think you'll be able to meet Ellen just by coming
to her house and say you represent her parents. But I think, if I come
with some friends, we will be received. After all we lived very close
for some years, and separated as friends. If you can wait a week, and I
can persuade Nazrullah to travel to Kandahar with me, I'll take you to
Ellen's home." Martha says after a pause thinking "How kind of you. If
we can have you with us, it's worth waiting. First of all I think
you're right. If her purdah life is so strict, as your story suggest,
it may be right that only a person already known to her will be
received. Second we probably need some days to make the necessary
arrangements anyway, so we won't waste much. But would you like to
travel with us, and where do you stay?" Karima says "No we travel
separately. Non-related mixed sexes travelling together can cause a lot
of problems and unwanted questions. Nazrullah is used to driving down
there, but I have never visited my brother-in-law and his wives, whom I
like very much. They have been here several times, but I have always
resented going to Kandahar, because all but the poorest women and maids
are completely senseless in public, and there are no places you can go
except other women's home. I think both Nazrullah and his brother and
family would be happy meeting each other. So if we go, I will stay at
their house, and I'll give you a day where we meet there." Sultana not
having said much now says "I'm sure we can stay at my sister's house.
I've been there several times. They are not as well off as we are. They
only have a small house, but it's nice and they are a nice liberal
couple, who will welcome Martha." Martha says "It seems everything is
possible even in Afghanistan. Karima please send a delivery boy, as
soon as Nazrullah is back. I'm very happy that we found out it's
probably not goodbye, but only see you later. Can you get us a cart in
this rich part of town?" Karima says "I don't know. It doesn't matter.
Maid!" As the maid appears, Karima speaks a few words in Pashto, and
then Sultana puts up a big smile saying "Nazrullah's car will take us
home." They hug, cover up and the maid takes them out to the waiting
car. Back at Nur Muhammad's house Martha asks him how they will get to
Kandahar. They hire a car. How long before leaving does it take to get
a car, Martha asks. At least one day, better two to find a good car at
the right price. Then they won't do anything until hearing from Karima,
Martha decides.

But already late the next afternoon a message is delivered. Martha
reads loud 'Dear Martha and Sultana. I went to Nazrullah's office here
in Kabul and was able to contact him. We go to Kandahar, and you can
meet me next Saturday at the house of his brother Amin Hafizullah,
which all boys know where is. But as I guess Martha like me does not
have clothes appropriate for Kandahar, we can perhaps go shopping
together tomorrow? I'll pick you up at 10 a.m. unless you say
otherwise. Yours sincerely Karima.' Nur Muhammad says "Good we got the
date this early. We have to be in Kandahar Friday. And as everything is
closed on Fridays, we can't travel on a Friday. We'll start Wednesday
and spend the night at the usual village arriving Thursday. The road is
very bad, and we will not be driving a truck with big rugged tires.
I'll only drive in daylight." Martha says "I'm glad you're cautious. I
didn't think it could be worse than the drive from Peshawar, when I
arrived here. But let us get a message delivered to Karima saying we
are ready tomorrow."

4. Shopping for strict clothing

Next morning a little
past ten a boy is at the door. "Why?" asks Martha while they put their
burqas on. Sultana says "First no one in the car knows exactly where we
live. The driver just let us off at the main road the other day. Second
we can't walk in the company of a strange adult male, if he would
follow the boy. But he wouldn't because he won't leave the car with
only women inside. Third the maid can't follow the boy, because she is
chaperoning Karima. The boy has to find us, and lead us back to the
car." Outside the yard they walk in silence. Inside the car Karima just
leans towards them. No talking when the driver is present. But the maid
says a few words in Pashto. Apparently where Karima wants to go. They
stop in the centre of town, and Martha immediately sees, they don't
have to walk more than a few steps. The open store front is completely
covered with blue burqas except for a small passage into the shop. But
at first floor height there is an opening in the wall making the inside
just a little darker than the street a long way in. Inside the walls
are packed with burqas as well, which are hanging in several layers
from floor to ceiling. Nearly everything is blue, but here and there a
small number of burqas in a different colour sticks out. In the dark at
the back of the store, it even seems there is a wide variety of
different designs and colours in very small quantities. They pass two
women in the standard blue browsing the right wall. Martha notes a
black gloved hand pulling an item out from a tightly packed row.

Just where the last light from the opening gives a good view in the
room is a low bench, where a woman in an above average quality burqa is
seated. Next to her is an 8-10 year old girl, and opposite them the
male shop assistant, telling about a blue burqa quite similar to the
one the woman is wearing. The shop assistant has a long beard, but
looks neat and well-groomed in plain but clean clothes. Although he
points to several details on the dress, while talking, the woman sits
facing the floor. The demonstration is very visual. Even without
understanding a word of Pashto Martha understands the inside of the
mesh is covered with a layer of black fabric, as the shop assistant
puts his hands inside the head part and demonstrates no hand is seen
through the mesh. The mesh is mostly to give the burqa a normal
appearance. Probably the fabric means the wearer can't see. Pulling his
hands out he asks a question turned to the girl. She looks at the
woman, who nods without really lifting her head. The shop assistant
folds the burqa and hands it to the girl. Then he walks the five yards
to the back wall of the shop followed by the girl and the woman close
behind her. He opens a door shouting a few words to someone on the
other side, and lets the girl and woman pass through before closing the
door. While he is at the door Sultana pushes Martha in her side through
her own burqa. As Martha looks at her, Sultana with her hand under her
burqa points towards Karima and bows her own head down. Karima stands
motionless with her head facing directly down. Martha understands she
should look down, when the shop assistant take interest in them. He
does so immediately stopping a yard from Karima, but facing the
entrance. Then the maid says a few words, and he continues to the two
women closer to the entrance. Sultana whispers to Martha "Karima has
told her maid that we will wait, as they came first, and our case is
probably more complicated."

Fortunately the shop assistant handle the two women with his back to
Martha and her companions. Martha can follow how he serves the women.
He pulls at a number of burqas, while talking. One woman standing
directly next to the same row of burqas moves her head from facing his
hands to facing the floor and shakes or nods from time to time, while
the other woman just stands at the opposite wall with her head down. He
then pulls a burqa completely off its rack and the woman communicating
nods several times. From behind Martha the woman with the girl passes.
The woman has put on the burqa, they carried out back. She is walking
close behind the girl stretching her burqa forward with a hand on the
inside to touch the back of the girl. Entering the shop may have been
her last glimpse of the male world. Meanwhile the shop assistant has
walked a little towards the entrance, and pulled out a long pole with a
support from behind some burqas. Then both women in turn walks up
facing and touching the pole. The shop assistant reads the number on
the pole above each woman's head. Then he pulls out another similar
burqa and walks towards the entrance with the women some steps behind
him. The burqas are put in a plastic bag and placed on the floor. While
the woman communicating with a gloved hand puts some money on a small
table, the other lifts her burqa over the bag and picks it up to carry
it inside her burqa. The shop assistant, who has meanwhile produced a
purse from his jacket, takes the money and in the same movement puts
change on the table and turns around walking towards the back of the
shop.

Martha bows her head. Karima's maid explains what they want. Martha
from viewing the shop assistant's feet knows he is looking at her. He
walks down near the back wall and takes a blue burqa, which at first
sight looks completely ordinary and cheap. Meanwhile Sultana whispers
to Martha "You can look up to his hands, when he is showing something,
but don't lift your face towards his. And when he is just talking or
searching in the racks face down." Martha is about to gasp, as he turns
the burqa inside out, to show the part covering the head has a long
cylinder sticking out of a thick pad, where the mouth will be. The
areas of the ears and the eyes are padded as well. Martha is happy,
when she understands Sultana has shook her head, and the shop assistant
takes a new burqa. This has 'just' a pad at the mouth area, but now
Sultana actually shows a gloved hand to hold the fabric of the burqa
between her fingers. She whispers something to the maid, who says it
loud to the shop assistant. Martha has had her head too high, as she
gets a glimpse of a pleased look on the shop assistants face, because
they have rejected the burqa just shown. He finds a new one. Even
Martha can see it is better quality than the previous one. The inside
of the head area is a complete black hood with built-in pads over
mouth, ears and eyes. Only around the nose there is a hole in the black
fabric having breathing only restricted by the thick blue material.
This opening might be necessary, because not much air will flow up to
the nose from below, as the lower rim of the black hood contains a wide
elastic band that holds it tight around the neck. The shop assistant
shows the outside. Not much air will flow in at the eyes either,
because where ordinary burqas have a mesh, there is just embroidery to
crudely outline an eye region probably to give a more human touch to
the look. This is a dress designed for modest women with less
embroidery than normal, and generally looking cheaper than it actually
is. It is looking much like Sultana's burqas, which she and Martha are
wearing now, and as such is just what they want, but it is probably
more expensive. As Sultana doesn't have to pay herself, she will
probably take it. Sultana whispers something to the maid, who repeats
for the shop assistant. This makes him turn to the racks again.
Meanwhile Sultana whispers to Martha "We buy this one, but he is
looking for one for me too. He will probably ask us to be measured at
the pole. If I start walking follow immediately." After browsing
through the racks for some time he succeeds in finding a copy. Martha
wonders why Sultana suddenly wants a Kandahar style burqa, when she has
said she had one from previous visits. Her best guess is, that it's
someone else paying. The shop assistant says something, but there is no
measuring. He has started walking towards the back door, when the maid
saying something stops him. He puts the two new burqas down at the
other end of the bench, where Karima has been sitting facing the floor
all the time the burqas for Martha and Sultana has been the subject.

Now he turns to the opposite wall, where a selection of expensive white
burqas are hanging. He takes three and places them on top of the blue
burqas on the bench. Then he walks out in the opening to the street and
lights a cigarette. Rich women are allowed to handle the clothes on
their own, probably because most won't or can't look, while a man is
present. While Karima gets up, the maid has flipped back her own burqa
and holds the top burqa up in font of her. While Karima inspects it so
close as possible through her mesh, Sultana whispers to Martha "We were
not measured because we will go out back and try it on. The length has
to be quite accurate to allow walking without tripping on one hand, and
on the other avoid shoes being seen. But the maid said we would stay
together going out back, when Karima has found something." Meanwhile
the maid has turned the inside out of the first burqa. This shows an
internal hood in soft black leather with only holes at the nose. It is
first closed with a zipper at the back, and then it can be further
secured with a leather strap that buckles around the neck. The buckle
includes a small padlock, which means the wearer can be prevented in
taking it off herself. But the burqa is made of the finest silk with a
lot of embroidery and heavy pleating. It might be hard to wear, but
it's very beautiful. Like the burqas for Martha and Sultana it has no
mesh, but Martha notes two small holes in the embroidery that decorates
the eye section. Perhaps it's possible to wear it without the inner
hood. The next burqa is very similar on the outside, perhaps even more
beautiful. As it is turned inside out Karima immediately shakes her
head, and the maid puts it away. Martha just has time to see, its
because it contains not only a hood, but a sleeveless leather jacket as
a continuation of the hood. It is easy to see the wearer's arms will be
locked inside without being able to free the arms. The third burqa
seems very similar to the first. Perhaps the fabric is not coloured as
completely white as the first one, and the hood seems to be made of
thicker leather for some reason. Martha can't see why, as both hoods
are padded at the ears and the mouth, indicating one layer of leather
alone is deemed inadequate to reduce sound. Karima nods to the maid and
bows nodding towards the first burqa as well, and then takes a few
steps towards the back door. She is ready for trying, and wants to try
both burqas with only a hood. With the two burqas over her arm the maid
opens the back door, and walks through followed by the others. Inside a
woman without burqa and showing both hands and face receive them. As
Karima takes her burqa off, the others do likewise. Martha has covered
her face completely with her scarf, but Karima says in English "It will
be difficult explaining you do not take part in the conversation
anyway. You might as well show you are a foreigner. Then we pay her to
keep quiet." Martha pulls her scarf down, and the woman stares
surprised. Karima tells her something in Pashto. Then they are offered
a cup of tea to drink, while trying the burqas. Karima starts by saying
something to the maid, and to Martha's surprise the maid puts on one of
Karima's burqas. Sultana says to Martha "Karima wants to see her
choices worn by a person, to see how they look and fold when walking."
Fortunately the maid is only a fraction taller than Karima, and after
she has walked a little around the room in both burqas, it is clear to
even Martha, that the first burqa has the best cut, and makes the
wearer look more elegant when moving. But Karima puts on both burqas,
and makes the maid close the hoods. She has tried them in reverse
order, and in the end just flips the first burqa back, and lifts the
hood to say something to the woman. Then she covers again. While the
woman works at the floor with Karima's burqa and needles, Sultana says
"Karima has chosen the one she is wearing now, which I think even you
could see looks best, but burqas can feel very different as well. Some
looking good are impossible to breathe in and makes you feel hot
immediately, but with these I think Karima found them about the same to
wear. Now the woman put needles for marking, how the length should be
adjusted to fit Karima. I'll go next to let you see how our burqa looks
on a person before you put yours on."

As the woman gets up finished with Karima, Sultana puts on her burqa.
Except when looking directly at the eye area, where it at close range
is clear that there is only embroidery and no opening in the blue
fabric, it looks essentially like the burqas they have been wearing so
far. Of course Martha can see that this burqa has more fabric touching
the ground, but it doesn't stick out as overdone. Soon the woman has
marked Sultana's burqa, and Martha has to put her own on. Wearing this
burqa is from the beginning very different. First the elastic hood has
to be pulled open and over the head before the cap part can be fitted.
Then no dimmed light or hazy view appears, it remains completely dark,
as if it wasn't correctly on. Then it immediately feels much warmer.
Especially on the face, where a normal burqa is loose and widens
directly from the cap. This one does as well, but the hood does not. It
clings to the head to press the pads over the ears and mouth inwards.
And it is completely silent. The weak sounds from the street, and even
the small noises of people around her, has gone. She is in a world of
her own, and has to concentrate to remember how much and in which
direction she can move, trying to walk a few steps in this dress. As
she moves she feels a hand on her shoulder guiding her. She actually
walks a circle in the room with small steps, before the hand make her
stand still. She feels her burqa is touched at the floor all way round.
Then the burqa is lifted, as a sign to take it off. Martha is glad to
be back in the world surrounding her. She has to practice to be able to
walk in this thing for more than a few minutes, and even then she
doubts, she will ever get used to wearing it. Karima says "The woman
says, if we go buying gloves a little down the street, she will send
the corrected burqas down there in about half an hour. She has a
daughter to help with the work. Just pay with large notes and take no
change, then she will keep our secret." Karima pays her own burqa, and
Martha pays for Sultana and herself. Even with a generous extra amount
from Martha, Karima pays more for her expensive burqa, than Martha pays
for two just above average. They put on the burqas they arrived in,
which suddenly feels less restricting, and walks back into the shop.
The shop assistant is serving new customers and doesn't let show, he
notes them pass.

They walk a hundred yards down the street, the maid leading and Karima
following her closely. A very similar but much smaller shop sells
gloves only for women. But then it's all kinds of gloves from short
thin ones to prevent skin colour or structure of the hands and wrists
are seen, to long thick restricting ones made to make hands and arms
useless. The maid explains to the male shop keeper their different
needs. Of course he handles Karima's request first. He finds three
sets. All long mittens made of leather. Two are black and one white.
One of the black pairs are much thicker and more tight fitting than the
other pairs. This pair will obviously severely restrict any use of arms
or hands. The maid knows this is not Karima, and first point to this
pair, which immediately makes Karima shake her head. Then the maid
points to the white pair, and Karima nods. The maid takes one glove and
walks with Karima into the back of the shop, where a curtain allows
them to lift their burqas without being seen by the shop keeper.
Meanwhile the shop keeper has found an assortment of gloves for Sultana
and Martha. They are all elbow long, black and with fingers. One pair
is thin leather. Sultana puts her gloved hand on the counter keeping
the opening of her burqa hidden by the front of the counter. She
reaches for a plain satin pair. Martha notes some pairs are made to be
shown perhaps in women-only company, because they have decorating
embroidery. They are now interrupted by the maid, who wants a larger
size for Karima. While the shop keeper looks for another pair, Sultana
stretches a hand with one glove towards Martha below the counter.
Martha lifts her burqa a little and takes the glove. Now they try a
glove each. Unlike the leather gloves, which are laced up the arm and
impossible to put on or take off by the wearer, these are made of
stretch material and can just be rolled out on top of the sleeve after
it has been put over the hand. But Martha finds the glove she is trying
has to be stretched too much and is too tight on her fingers. She
stretches the double gloved hand towards Sultana and shakes her head.
Sultana whispers "Larger?" Martha nods. Sultana gestures to the shop
keeper she wants exactly this pair and the same one size larger for her
companion. He quickly finds the right size, and Martha tries it and
nods. Now Karima and the maid is beside them again. The maid and the
shop keeper handles the payment. Sultana whispers to Martha. "She has
paid for our gloves as well. I don't know why." They haven't spend more
than twenty minutes buying gloves Martha guess without having a watch
to look at. The maid or Karima has found out as well, Martha learns
shortly. The maid says something to the shop keeper, and then whispers
to Sultana, who whispers to Martha "We haven't spend half an hour here,
but Karima likes to go on after we get our burqas, so we have to wait
here until they arrive." Now they follow Karima and the maid, who has
withdrawn down behind the curtain. In ten to fifteen minutes absolutely
nothing happens, as both Karima and Sultana finds it inappropriate to
talk or even whisper just to entertain themselves so close to a strange
man. Martha tries to count how many gloves there are in each pile on
the shelves within view. Karima and Sultana face the floor. The maid
keeps an eye on the entrance to look for their burqas. Finally the maid
moves. A boy has arrived with two plastic bags. The maid takes them
both. As before Karima follows her very close, while they walk out of
the shop.

After walking for five minutes Martha can see they are headed for the
Women's Park. But close to the entrance the maid puts the bags down,
and gestures Sultana to take them. The maid walks to a stall selling
cakes and gets a bag filled. Then she walks a few steps to a boy
selling cans of soda. They will have a picnic Martha thinks, as they
walk into the Women's Park. They find a bench, where two can sit, and
Martha as guest of the country is offered a seat, but refuses. She is
in good shape and doesn't need to rest. Then of course Karima and
Sultana sit down. Only now they all flip their burqas back. "Serve
yourself," Karima says pointing to the cakes and cans placed between
them on the bench, while pulling at the lower edge of the thin scarf
covering her face to get access to her mouth. Today she is not in pink,
but wears a yellow dress and white head scarves, Martha notes. Karima
continues "You owe me for the gloves. Paying was not meant as a
present, but to avoid Martha having to communicate with the shop
keeper. Me paying for you looks completely normal to him, as women like
me often go shopping with poor relatives visiting from the country,
giving them gloves as a thanks for their visit." Martha takes the bag
of cakes and holds it towards the maid. The maid looks at Karima, who
nods, before she takes one. "You can have some more and a can as well,"
Martha says very slowly and gesturing. "Tank u," it comes from the
maid, as Martha sees her hungry and thirsty eyes turn into a smile.
Martha then turns to Sultana saying "Why did you buy a burqa for
yourself. You have a Kandahar style burqa?" Sultana says "Yes it's
true. But it doesn't look like the one you bought. We have to dress
identically to look like we are married to the same husband. You know
Islam allows only more wives, if they are treated exactly equal. One of
the best ways to show this is to buy identical clothes for all wives.
Especially burqas of different value would attract suspicion
immediately." Martha says "Of course. Me who just thought, it was a
chance for you to get a new burqa for free." Sultana says "It has never
crossed my mind," in a voice that clearly shows it has. Martha is sure
that she would see a blushing face, if Sultana wasn't veiled enough to
cover such an expression.

They continue talking about the weather and women passing by, while the
maid eats cakes. After an hour talking they somehow find it is time to
leave. Their gloves are put down in the bag with their burqas, and they
say see you next week in Kandahar to each other. Then they put their
burqas down and walks towards the exit. Martha whispers to Sultana, as
they walk out. Outside Martha immediately spots Karima's car. Obviously
the driver has been told they would end their shopping in the Women's
Park. But Sultana passes the maid and takes the lead. She heads to the
stall selling cakes, and the boy selling starts filling a bag much
larger than the one the maid bought for Karima. Sultana pays and walks
with the bag towards the car. Karima enters, while the maid puts
Karima's bags in the trunk. As the maid walks forward to wait to close
the back seat door, Sultana hands her the bag of cakes, probably saying
it's a present for her. This makes her lift both her arms free of her
burqa, and both Sultana and Martha gets a tight hug, which would have
been a kiss as well, if both parts haven't had their faces covered.
While hugging they both are told a lot in Pashto, which Sultana finds
it unnecessary to translate. Martha notes the driver has put up a big
smile watching this scene. Eventually they get in, and the maid closes
the door carefully. Out at Nur Muhammad's house the maid is quickly out
opening the door again, and she leans at their chins before closing the
door and getting back in the front seat.

Nothing happens the following days, except Martha despite her dislike
dresses in the Kandahar burqa a couple of times each day for longer and
longer periods. The last day before they leave she wears it for an
hour, walking in the streets near the house guided by Sultana. Learning
to walk without senses is the strangest task, she has ever had to learn
to accomplish a job. But she walks without stumbling, which is the most
important. It doesn't have to be perfect, as many women from the
liberal Kabul are visiting Kandahar, making women walking blind without
long practice a sight often seen. Sultana strengthen Martha's
confidence by saying, that she might even be taken as a local girl
recently started wearing burqa.

5. The road to Kandahar

On Wednesday morning they walk
to the car with only small bags with a little clothes. Sultana and
Martha are both dressed in their usual gloves, veil and burqa. The
Kandahar burqas are in the bags. Nur Muhammad has parked the rented car
a few streets away at a friend with a yard large enough. Seeing the car
Martha, even if she trusts Nur Muhammad's judgment when renting the
car, gets in doubt, if it will make it. It looks like something found
at a junk yard. Scratches and dents are covered with ordinary paint in
different shades, apparently as close to the original colour, as could
be found that day. And although it's clean inside the seats are stained
and scratched. The women has brought some food, and Nur Muhammad has
bought cans of soda and bottles of water. But they don't drive directly
out of town. They stop at a store selling bags of grain, where Nur
Muhammad loads the trunk with two large 100 lb. bags of wheat and rice
respectively. They drive for a while without any talking. There won't
be much talking during the drive, as the noise level inside the car
makes it nearly impossible. But Martha can hear why Nur Muhammad has
rented this car. The engine actually sound as it should, and gear and
brakes seem to be well maintained as well. They are crossing a long
plain and there is quite a lot of traffic. Often they have to go very
slow, because they can't pass a slow truck right away. During such a
slow down it is easier to communicate, and Martha asks what the grain
is for. Nur Muhammad says "It's gifts or payment. We stay the night at
a farmer I know. But because guests according to our traditions are
always welcomed without asking for anything in return, he won't accept
we pay him for staying. But then we give them a very large present,
which they can use themselves, or sell some of it to buy other things.
Quality grain is always in demand, and they know how to store and use
it properly. The farmer can have the bag he likes most, and then
Sultana's family get the other one, so they don't loose anything by
giving us food and drink, while we stay there. They are poor and may
have some hard days, if having to feed three people more for several
days."

The longer they get from Kabul, the worse the road. The pavement is
often missing. Small holes, strips of gravel and sometimes large holes,
which they have to go around. This sometimes means driving in the
opposite side of the road, or stopping if there is traffic in the
opposite direction. And then there are the river beds. It is past the
melting season, and there are few rivers with lots of water. But there
are many dry or nearly dry river beds, where water just flows a week or
so each year. But when this happens the water removes everything in the
river bed including the roads crossing. In many river beds the task of
maintaining a road has been abandoned. This means crossing involves
driving down a steep bank, driving across the unpaved and rough river
bed, and even sometimes through a stream of water, where it is
impossible to see if there are holes to get stuck in, and finally
driving up a steep rough track again. Such road conditions are the
reason why Nur Muhammad won't drive the 300 miles in one day. Martha
notices quite many cars driving with the trunk open, where women are
sitting. It doesn't seem because the cabin is filled. Next time they
slow down Martha asks "Why are there so many women in the trunk of
cars?" Sultana says "Most men finds it inappropriate to have their
wife, even if she is covered, sitting so close to a strange male, as a
car cabin is, for an extended period of time. " Martha says "That
answers why Karima wanted to drive alone with Nazrullah." The landscape
is mostly deserted. Now and then they pass a small house, many of them
could be called shacks. But they do pass small towns as well. Very few
women are seen compared to Kabul, and Martha notices that of those seen
perhaps a third seems to be in blinding burqas and guided.

At the middle of the afternoon they leave the main road crossing
through the middle of a plain, to drive along a dirt track towards the
mountain ridge bordering the plain. After twenty minutes on the small
road they reach a cluster of small clay-plaster covered stone houses.
Small streams from the mountains allows farming. The village is
surrounded by fields, and close to the houses are fruit trees. They
have reached the place to spend the night. Nur Muhammad parks along the
wall of one of the first houses directly at the edge of a wheat field.
The noise of the car has caused dogs barking from several places in the
village, and before Nur Muhammad is out of the car, the small door in
the wall around the house is opened, and a man around forty in typical
peasant clothing comes out. Martha doesn't get a closer look, because
as Nur Muhammad steps out of the car Sultana whispers "Keep your head
down and stay silent." The two men talk for some minutes, then the
trunk is opened, and after a little more talking the car rocks a
little, as one of the bags is removed. The men leave. Sultana whispers
"We have to stay with our heads down until someone opens the car door.
It's very likely that boys of the village or old men have come to look
at the car." Perhaps a quarter later the door is opened. It's Nur
Muhammad, but he doesn't concentrate on them. While standing just
behind the open door, he greets what sounds like an old man some yards
away. Sultana with her head down walks towards the door in the wall,
and Martha follows close behind. It sounds like boys are observing the
car and them.

They enter a small yard containing a one room house, an oven and a
water pump. Hens are heard cackling behind the house. In front of the
door to the house a woman receives them. She silently greets first
Sultana and then Martha by meeting cheek to cheek. As Sultana has
raised her head, Martha do likewise and can now observe the woman. Even
though she is a peasant woman in her own yard, she wears a burqa in the
usual blue colour. But it's very short at the front only reaching the
waist, and then curving down along the sides to be ankle length at the
back. The legs are covered by a thick mainly red flower patterned skirt
reaching the ankles as well. Below the skirt the legs of bright green
wide trousers cover the top of the brown leather shoes. The burqa mesh
is quite large and thin, but only shows that the face is completely
veiled in black beneath. They are gestured to sit down on cushions
placed up against the wall of the house. The woman goes to the oven,
where a pot is being heated on its top. Then Nur Muhammad enters the
yard with some of their bags. He walks directly into the house. Through
the open door Martha can hear he starts a conversation with the farmer.
Then the woman with the boiling pot enters the house. After a few
minutes she returns with a tray with three glasses of tea. Now black
gloved hands and green sleeves are seen. Sultana moves to let her have
her cushion between them. Before taking her own glass, the woman's
hands are lifted up under the burqa to the back of her head. A tightly
rolled black scarf is placed on the tray. She has been gagged. With the
men behind a thin door, and with a glass-less light opening in the wall
a few yards away, the burqas have to stay on, and talking is out of the
question. They have to take the glass up under the burqa to drink.
Martha has pulled at the back of her veiling scarf to remove it from
the mouth. The woman has much less problems drinking with her short
burqa front. Nothing happens among the women. Martha and Sultana after
a long time in a noisy, dusty and warm car just enjoys the silence and
the cooler shadow, which the roof just manages to make a few feet out
from the wall. With their glasses empty both Martha and Sultana refuse
a refill. The men seems to keep talking for some more time. The woman
reaches for her gag. Sultana takes her hand, touches her gag and points
to Martha and herself. The woman nods and gags herself with the scarf.
Then she takes the tray with glasses and goes into the house. Shortly
after she returns with two black scarves. Martha watches how Sultana
rolls it to a cord very thick at the centre. Then she takes it up under
her burqa and ties it over the mouth around the head. Martha copies.

After half an hour the men leaves to take a look at the fields and the
village and talk with other villagers. And the women can move freely
around in the yard and house to cook. Martha points to her mouth
gesturing, if they may talk. Both Sultana, who has been here before,
and the woman shakes her head. Further the woman puts her hands to the
front of her burqa and lifts her arms, like she would pull the burqa
off, but she doesn't lift it. She shakes her head. Uncovering is not
permitted either. The woman points to the door in the wall less than
ten yards away. Martha understands the men could enter at any time.
They concentrate on the cooking. The woman hands Martha and Sultana
some vegetables to clean at the pump. It's not so easy in a long burqa
and with gloves, but slow help is better than none. Meanwhile the woman
has been behind the house. She returns with a hen held head down and
wriggling in one hand, and a knife in the other. An experienced cut at
the neck of the hen ends it life, and shortly after she begins to
remove the feathers. Martha smiles behind her layers. Here is no doubt
that the food ingredients are completely fresh. Soon a large pot filled
with the result of their work is cooking on top of the oven. Now they
can rest for at least half an hour.

Martha has stained one of her gloves a little, and gets inspired to
test the woman's curiosity. She very visibly shows she has noticed the
stain, and pulls the glove off close to the pump. Then she lets water
flow on it, while watching the woman. As she sees her dark skinned
hand, she comes up close and grabs at Martha's wrist. Martha turns her
hand to show the light palm, and lets her inspect the skin. Then she
points to her own face and pretends to lift the burqa. After some
moments of hesitation the woman takes Martha's hand and leads her into
the house. Sultana has followed, and the woman gestures her to close
the door and stay at the window opening to watch the door in the wall.
Martha flips her burqa back, unties the gag and removes her veil. The
woman has flipped her burqa back as well, and pulls down a narrow
semi-transparent scarf just covering her eyes, to be able to clearly
see the face of a black woman. Martha smiles to her, and says in a
whispering voice "I'm Martha. Thank you for letting us spend the night
at your house," knowing that the woman doesn't understand English. The
woman's eyes shows she doesn't understand, and she turns towards
Sultana. Now Sultana has to pull her gag down, and whispers to the
woman in Pashto. This makes the woman feel she has to answer, and she
pulls her gag down, and whispers. Sultana translates "My name is Asma.
Your generous present makes sure we won't starve during winter." Martha
whispers "Allah is great. I'm sure your harvest will be fine. The
present is just to allow a little extravaganza. But won't you remove
your last veil to let me see your face?" During Sultana's translation
of the last line the woman looks down blushing. But as Martha is
showing her face, she has to reciprocate. The black scarf covering the
face from below the eyes is slowly pulled down. From what could be
partly guessed from the eyes, she is young. Much younger than her
husband. Martha guesses in her mid twenties. And very beautiful. Martha
whispers "Thank you Asma. I appreciate you unveiled. You are extremely
beautiful. Seeing your husband, I had expected you were much older."
Through Sultana Asma replies "I am his second wife. The first one died
from a disease three years ago, and shortly after he married me. It was
late for me. I had become eighteen, when I married. We can talk a
little more, because this whispering can't be heard across the yard,
and it can't be seen we're ungagged with burqas, but please can we
cover again? Just a glimpse indicating that we have been uncovered,
could lead to trouble." While translating Asma has begun covering
again, because Sultana has answered her and nodded before speaking
English. Now Martha starts covering as well while asking "If you are
covered even in here and gagged except when eating or drinking, are you
able to see and communicate with the other women in the village?" Asma
says "There is a stream close to the village, where we go washing at a
certain place. There no men will go, and we can both speak and show our
faces, if screened inside a lifted burqa. We do not uncover our heads
completely. Then, when we work in the fields women only, we are allowed
to speak, if there is enough open view to secure no men are within
listening range." Martha says "Sultana tell her shortly why we are
here." Sultana talks in Pashto for a couple of minutes. Asma says "I
hope you succeed in finding the American woman. But please let us stop
now. The last preparations for the dinner has to me made." Martha just
nods, and they all gag themselves.

Soon dinner is ready, the men return and are served. The men eat inside
the house, while the women wait for them outside, and then eat outside
as well, while the men smoke. Martha gets sleepy early. The men keep
talking and drinking tea inside the house. While this is going on the
women have to stay out in the yard. Only Asma enters the house to serve
the men and get things. The women after clearing the dinner can do
nothing but listen to the men, and Martha doesn't understand a word.
Soon she can only watch the stars on the clear night sky, so much
clearer than a lighted polluted American city. When it's time for
sleeping Martha and Sultana are let into the house to sleep beside Nur
Muhammad. The guests are given the best and only room inside, while
Asma and her husband sleep in the yard. The women just sleep as they
are fully covered in burqa. A total new experience to Martha, but she's
too sleepy to think about it.

The sun has just come up, when Martha is waken by Sultana. They
are guesting farmers, who rise with the sun. But soon home made bread
and cheese is served with strong tea, and Martha is ready for a new
day. They leave shortly after breakfast. Asma with her short burqa is
able to hug them without revealing much more than normal. Martha, while
the men is out of the yard, gestures they expect to be back in some
days. Martha and Sultana takes the back seat of the car, as the day
before. The men spend a long time talking down the village street
before they say goodbye. Meanwhile Asma stands in the doorway of the
wall, where she can't be seen from the road. When Martha peeks out to
find nobody there but Asma, she lifts an arm free of the burqa and
waves. But eventually they go on. But only halfway between the village
and the main road Nur Muhammad stops saying "We're soon in the
territory, where all city women wear Kandahar burqa. It's only because
showing yourself without burqa in the farmer's house would have been
improper, that I waited. Here we can see people minutes before they
arrive, and now we're alone. So ladies please, the rest of your journey
is silent and dark." Sultana finds their Kandahar burqas in a bag in
the trunk. Then they both take off their normal burqas, which are put
in the bag. The clear fresh morning disappears, as Martha puts the
burqa on. It becomes completely dark, completely silent, warmer and
stuffy. She senses the car door opening directly with her head, and
gets back in.

When the engine starts and the car starts moving, it's no longer
completely silent. Vibrations, low frequency sounds and bumps keeps her
awake, opposing the other factors that makes her drift off. Martha has
no idea for how long they have been driving, when the car stops. After
some minutes a hand at her feet places something. She puts a hand down
and senses a can and a sandwich. Lunch. Martha feels it's long after
she has finished eating and drinking, that the car starts again. Then
the car stops. Martha feels her body aching. She must have been
sleeping in an awkward position. A hand shakes her shoulder. She is
guided out. After a few minutes walk hands lift at the front of her
burqa. She hurries to take it completely off. She's in a small yard
much like at the village. But the house is larger. And right in front
of her are two women showing smiling faces. Sultana's sister and her
co-wife. And now Nur Muhammad and a man enters without the women
covering. The women embrace Sultana and say greetings in Pashto. Martha
is not greeted, until Sultana says "Martha, take your veil off. My
brother-in-law is not strict." The strange ride deaf, mute and blind,
and the sudden change to unveiled women has completely made Martha
forget her own veil. Removing it the two women of the house prepares to
embrace Martha, but as they see her face, it's their turn to be
surprised. But after a short while, she is greeted as well. After
receiving the generous present the brother-in-law tells his wives to
make a really good meal and just ask, if he has to buy something to
make it perfect. And when Martha participate in the short evening
prayer, she is fully accepted. But they are not so liberal that men and
women eat together. The four women have to squeeze down in the small
kitchen, while the men occupy the small, but for two more than
sufficiently large living room. But Martha enjoys the evening, even
though it's tiring, especially for Sultana, that everything has to be
translated.

6. End of search

Friday in Kandahar. Martha had been
warned, the only thing women did outside their own home, was being
moved to other homes for visits. But not on Fridays. The men left mid
morning to spend the time until the important Friday prayer at the
mosque at some cafe, or just talking with those they met, because all
men were out to do the same. And they would not be home before late
afternoon, because after the prayers they would talk again. Now the
starting subject was the speech of the Mullah, and depending on its
penetration and the religious devotion of those discussing, they would
sooner or later change to more profane subjects like business or
politics. It was out of the question for the women to go anywhere. And
it was not considered good manners to do more than the absolutely
necessary house chores. Otherwise cleaning all day could make time for
longer visits or breaks the following days. Martha and Sultana could
have read, but doing something that excluded their hosts would not be
polite. They can pray and talk. And talking has to be kept at a
reasonably serious level. No gossip about other women, no fashion and
no sex. But fortunately Martha comes from a totally different culture,
and has practiced their religion totally different. There is enough to
talk about. And it has to be translated. And they drink tea. Lots of
tea. A little past eleven the wives usually start a long prayer
session. Martha and Sultana won't deviate from their habit, and of
course join them. Women do not say their prayers loud, so Martha has to
come up with everything inside her own head. She starts reciting the
Quran to herself, and actually feels proud about, how much she is able
to remember. But they pray for much longer. Time passes noon. And she
starts feeling hungry. Finally the wives think it's enough. It's twenty
to one. Martha doesn't dare ask, if they have shortened the prayer
because of their guests. They spend a long time eating lunch. And not
long after it's tea time again. Cake and candy are served. Mid
afternoon they start preparing dinner. While working in the kitchen
they frequently take a short break and eat a little snack or taste the
dishes for the dinner. Martha doesn't get hungry during the afternoon
or the rest of the day. If she had to stay here for long, she would
gain a lot of weight. But in this part of the world this is much more
fashionable than in the West. The men arrives. Now they mainly have to
stay in the kitchen. And one of the wives has to follow, if there's
something the men wants. But at the evening tea at half past eight the
women are invited to join the men. They want to know, what Martha and
Sultana will do the following day. This is all known to Nur Muhammad,
but of course the brother-in-law should be informed as well. And when
he hears they are going to Nazrullah's brother to meet Karima, he says
he knows who he is, and where he lives. If they can leave not too long
after breakfast, he and Nur Muhammad can guide them there, before they
start doing business. Sultana says it would be fine to start early,
because they plan on visiting the house, where Ellen should be just
after lunch, and it would be very impolite to enter the house of
Karima's family, and then leave shortly after.

Saturday morning Martha and Sultana get ready to put on the awful
Kandahar burqa again. But first they have to think of how they present
themselves, when the burqa is lifted. They find the elbow long gloves
bought in Kabul for this, and puts them on top of their usual short
gloves and the shirt sleeves. And then a see-through veil is not
sufficient to cover the face. Below this they tie a black scarf over
mouth and nose, so what is seen through the tulle is only black fabric
and a thin eye slit. Now they are ready to lift the burqa over the head
and pull down the inner hood to go blind, deaf and mute, moments before
the entire body is covered in long thick blue pleated fabric. After
more than thirty hours within the four walls of the small house a
little exercise and fresh air would have been nice, but being woman in
Kandahar is not like that. The air is always hot and dusty. The thick
fabric of the burqa stops any breeze that might make it more pleasant.
The heavy face covering do filter the dust, but then it collects on the
outer surface making breathing even more restricted. And the hem sweeps
the dust to ensure the wearer is modest, not showing she has legs, but
quickly gets dirty. It's hot and tiring, but it's not the muscles that
are fatigued. The long restricting dress and walking blind means they
have to walk slow and carefully to avoid tripping, and to avoid getting
away from the intended path, hitting something before their guide can
react. Martha has no idea for how long or what distance they have made,
when the loose rubble surface of the mostly unpaved streets change to a
flat clean stone surface, and they stop. After a few minutes they are
guided a little longer, and then a hand lifts at her burqa.

After completely lifting the burqa herself Martha through her veil sees
three women in colourful dresses including coloured headscarves under a
thin matching see-through veil covering both head and shoulders. One of
them comes up close to her and says in English "I'm sorry you have to
keep your face veiled Martha. They are not strict here, but being an
influential family requires that the general dress-code has to be
followed. We'll not show our faces completely, but when we have tea the
opaque scarf goes down, and then you can see just about everything."
Martha has immediately recognized the voice of Karima. Martha and
Sultana are now greeted by Karima's sisters-in-law. Then Martha, a
little surprised by her own muffled voice, asks Karima, if she agrees
they should go to Ellen's house just after lunch. Karima expects Ellen
and her co-wives might have a long prayer session around noon. Because
of that they won't be able to stay there for long, if they go
immediately. This of course leads to an invitation for lunch, where
they are now. But first tea. As Karima predicted the face veiling in
this house is something of a formality to maintain a respectable
reputation. When tea is served the scarf over mouth and nose is pulled
down, and the faces are clearly seen through the thin tulle staying on.
Both women are beautiful similarly aged around thirty. Being so much
older than Karima, Martha guesses Nazrullah is the younger of the two
brothers. Martha pulls her lower face scarf down as well, and is as
usual met by surprised faces. Even if Karima has told about her skin
colour, actually seeing it is something different. The wives are
educated, being old enough to have had some years in school before the
Taliban took over in 1996, but are not able to make a conversation in
English.

Fortunately Sultana has to learn about their family and the house,
which is almost comparable to the luxurious house of Nazrullah in
Kabul. Her sister and the co-wife will want to know about one of the
influential families of Kandahar, and a house way above their own. A
sister visiting a fine family, is very close to being there yourself,
when gossiping with women in the neighbourhood. So until lunch Martha
can speak English with Karima. But Kandahar is stricter than Kabul.
When tea is over they lift their scarves up to the eyes again. Talking
can be done without seeing the facial expression, and then everybody is
decently covered. Martha knows that Nazrullah and Karima talk about
everything, and follow the news of the world. Martha gets updated, and
Karima wants her opinion on the subjects, she has discussed with
Nazrullah during their long drive to Kandahar. At noon they stop for a
short ten minute prayer session. Then they all take part in preparing
lunch. Despite their husband's wealth, they have no maid like Karima.
Martha is told they can just as well do the house chores themselves,
because women in Kandahar have to spend most of their time at home.
They have a boy of ten, who has to run some errands. But most of the
shopping is done by the husband, who at the market finds a boy to
follow him around, and then carry his buyings home. They don't drag the
meal more than politeness requires. They are eager to continue the
task, that have sent them on this journey to Kandahar. The search for
Ellen is continued.

On the outer wall next to the gate of the house is a red light, which
is now flashing. Soon a delivery boy answers the light by ringing the
bell. In the yard of the house Karima tells the boy, where they want to
go, and what he should say at their arrival. Then they put their burqas
on, and it becomes black and silent. Martha worries, if they can trust
this boy. Does he really know where to take them or do they walk for a
long time in vain? Or even worse is he in the pocket of the numerous
bad guys, that just waits for an occasion like this to increase their
number of slaves or get a ransom? But the others hadn't worried,
perhaps the wives knows him. Martha guesses they have been walking for
twenty perhaps even thirty minutes, when there is a stop. Then they
move away from the rough surface of the streets onto a flat stone
surface. A hand lifts at Martha's burqa, and she immediately lifts it
herself. They are in the hall of another rich house and a completely
black veiled woman says with Sultana whispering in English into
Martha's ear "You have reached the house of sheik Rashid al Abdul. As
his wives has accepted receiving you, I've sent your boy away. But you
are just out of the street. This is the male section of the house.
Although there are no males in here at present, most women prefer to
remain covered and silent, until in the women's section. The wives of
sheik Rashid al Abdul are not ready to receive visitors right now. Take
a seat on the cushions here, until I'm back in about ten minutes."
Karima nods at the maid, turns her back to a cushion, pulls her burqa
down and sits down. As Karima has reasoned, they should to do as the
maid says, Sultana and Martha go back to the silent darkness as well.
Perhaps Ellen has been bathing since they have to wait. But around ten
minutes later Martha feels a hand on her shoulder and gets up. They
walk for a couple of minutes with small breaks indicating doors are
opened and closed by the maid. Then her burqa is lifted.

They are in a quite large completely empty room except for cushions on
the floor. To their left is a door, probably where they entered. To the
right the room is completely open towards a yard, which could just as
well be described as a garden. Sitting on four cushions at the opposite
wall are four identical white silk burqas, the wives of sheik Rashid al
Abdul. After the guests have had a little time to seize their
surroundings, the maid gestures them to sit at the cushions behind
them, which they do. Martha has started her recorder to at least get
the voice of Ellen, if she rejects to make a message to her parents.
The wives are not sitting side by side in a line facing their guests,
but are sitting in two pairs with their side to the wall and the two
pairs back to back. Why becomes apparent, as the maid sits down in
front of them facing the guests, and with her back against the square
of wives. When the maid starts talking, the wives turn their heads
against each other. The maid says "I'm acting as voice of the women
behind me. We are Zakia, Azra, Ellen and Habiba, the wives of sheik
Rashid al Abdul. Welcome. We only have full contact with women approved
by our husband. What our maid now repeats may come from any of us, and
we can't see you. Ellen is happy to meet her former co-wife again. We
like to know who her companions are?" Sultana has whispered a rough
translation in Martha's ear. Martha is disappointed, and feels like
walking over and ripping the burqas off the four women, but controls
herself and tries in stead to force a direct dialog with Ellen by
saying in English "I'm Martha Miller hired by Senator Jasper to find
his daughter Ellen. And next to me is my partner Sultana, wife of Nur
Muhammad. Can I have a proof that I have found Ellen?" Now there is a
talking in the wife group, too low to hear. The set-up is very
effective in anonymising the women. Although probably only Ellen
understands English, it's impossible to see who is speaking, and if the
translation has ended, and they are now discussing what to do. The maid
says "I Ellen is very happy with my strict secluded life in purdah here
in the house of sheik Rashid al Abdul. As you have been let into this
house claiming you wanted to meet Ellen, you know you have met her.
Because I doubt there are other women called Ellen in Afghanistan. But
if you by proof means speaking with me in English or seeing my face, I
have to disappoint you. At least today. As I said I'm happy here, and
fully believes in the rules we follow to stay protected and pious in
complete purdah. I will have to ask our husband, if he can approve you
as a women I can talk to directly, and if he will allow you to see me,
or to write to my parents. Perhaps my dad has sent you, because I
stopped writing some time ago. I stopped when I found out, that a
really pious woman should only please her husband, do housework and
pray. If women needed to be able to write, Afghanistan would have had
schools for girls. Can you come back tomorrow? All of you. I'm sure our
husband will be more positive, when it involves my former co-wife as
well, where he knows the family." Martha looks at Karima, who nods.
Karima then says "To help your husband reach a positive decision I
think he should know, that Martha is a practicing Muslim, who was
brought up in a Muslim family, and during her entire stay in
Afghanistan has followed the local dress-code. Your maid can confirm,
that she is covered beneath her burqa like most women in Kandahar." The
maid says "You must know that I Ellen would enjoy a direct conversation
in English with both of you, but my life here means so much to me I
will not break any rules just because my dad has sent someone from
America. But it was wise of Karima mentioning Martha is a Muslim. A
Christian American would have had much less chance. I hope he accepts a
meeting. But if he doesn't, it was nice meeting Karima again, and
Martha can tell my parents I'm alive and happy here. But I have just
remembered, I have a sort of proof that you have met me. I'll go and
find it, and then the maid will bring it to you when guiding you out.
See you tomorrow I hope." The four wives get up, and the maid moves
them to form a line. Then she takes the lead, and Martha can see they
each follow the woman in front of themselves by stretching their hands
a little forward under the burqa to make contact with the back in front
of them. They disappear in the yard.
Sultana says "If we're lucky we're allowed to talk to them directly on
an individual basis. I doubt women that strict will show themselves
without burqa to non-family members." Martha says "I'm afraid you're
right, but I'll stay optimistic. But the possibility of getting a photo
seems far away. The best I can hope for is a recording with an
unmuffled voice." The maid returns with a piece of cloth, which she
hands to Martha. Martha unfolds it, and they all see it's a t-shirt
with the print 'Bryn Mawr college 2011'. The maid says "You'll have to
wait at the entrance, while I go to the neighbours to find a dependable
boy to guide you home. I would like the one, who will tell the boy
where to go to be the last in line." They pull their burqas down and
are once again mute, deaf and blind. After being guided to the entrance
they have to sit and wait for a long time. Martha thinks about how she
can get her final proof. Now she is so close to accomplishing her
assignment for the Senator, she might have to deviate from behaving
like a modest complying woman like everybody else around her. Martha
thinks half an hour has passed before she is padded on her shoulder and
they start walking again. Karima has told the boy to guide them to the
house of her brother-in-law. Now Sultana will have him to guide herself
and Martha to her sister's house. He will gladly do so, because they
pay much more than normal for such a job. But all this is not directly
experienced by Martha, who remain covered at the short stop at Karima's
family. For her it's only walk and wait and walk, without for sure
knowing what is going on.

Back at Sultana's sister Martha asks "Is there a fashion magazine,
which have a new issue every month or more frequently?" Sultana
translates, and the three Afghan women starts a discussion lasting
several minutes. Then Sultana says to Martha "We have agreed that there
are no magazines showing clothes published in Afghanistan, but it is
possible and legal to buy an Iranian fashion magazine, which the
Iranian government use to demonstrate that modest clothing within the
religious boundaries can be fashionable. It is in Farsi, but as most
women can't read, it doesn't matter. But it is very expensive." Martha
says "It is good it is expensive, then it is a more extravagant gift.
But ask our hosts here, if they think it is acceptable for Ellen and
her co-wives to receive such a magazine. It must be acceptable to their
husband as well?" Martha quickly understands it is. After some Pashto
talking Sultana says "This Iranian magazine doesn't show people. The
most outrageous pictures show the clothes on headless mannequins, or if
it's head wear with featureless spheres. And then what the Iranians
call an outdoor coat, may be only be shown in private family rooms
here. But everywhere many fashion ideas are so daring, that nobody
would wear them themselves, but they are still fun to look at and dream
about. It would be very welcome in this house as well." Martha says
"When Nur Muhammad and your brother-in-law arrive, ask them to buy the
ten most recent issues they can find. I want to be sure we can find
four issues, which doesn't offend the very sensitive minds of Ellen and
her family. Then you can keep the rest here unless Sultana or I finds a
dress to die for." Martha notes the happy looks, when Sultana
translates 'you can keep the rest.'
The men are back less than an hour before normal dinner time, but
immediately leave to fulfil Martha's request. It's twenty minutes
overdue, when they return, but nobody grumbles, as they see the men
have achieved their goal. Actually the women are very eager to pray and
eat as fast as possible. Martha and Sultana offer to clear the table
and do the dishes. Some hours later just before it's time to go to
sleep Martha asks Sultana "Can we conclude that none of these magazines
contains anything inappropriate to watch for the fragile minds of Ellen
and her co-wives?" Sultana nods. Martha continues "Then I would like
the four most recent issues for them. And Ellen should receive the most
recent."

The next morning the blinding walk is repeated. After Karima has
described how they were received at Ellen's house to her
sisters-in-law, they have found it right to dress a little more modest
for the next visit, if allowed to meet Ellen and her co-wives directly.
Because the sisters-in-law are both local women and at the same social
level as Ellen, their opinion is valued by Sultana and Martha. They
borrow what is needed. This means they on top of their gloves, loose
shirt and loose trousers put on a long nearly floor touching plain dark
coloured dress. And then they replace their tulle veil and face scarf
with a niqab with a tiny slit maintained by a nose string and an outer
layer covering the eyes much more than the tulle. Both sisters-in-law
agree that they now are decently covered to be with any women in
Kandahar, even the wives of Mullahs. Then follow another tedious walk
in isolation before Karima, Sultana and Martha arrive at Ellen's house
a little past eleven. As expected they have been approved by the
husband to talk with them, and this time they are immediately guided
through the house.

As they lift their burqas, Martha immediately sees they are at the
other end of the yard. The room is about the same size, but contains
carpets and low tables besides a large number of cushions. And then
there is a number of doors. But most important, right in front of them
are Ellen and her co-wives, today individually identifiable, as their
wear similar clothing, but show different colours. The maid even
gestures to the guests to hand her their burqas, which they do. Their
excessive covering with niqab is well received. The wives themselves
seem to wear something similar, but except for the lower legs
everything is additionally covered by a thin silk burqa. But this is
clearly only for indoors use, as it is of the short type, where the
front barely reaches the knees. Their burqas are identical in the
traditional blue colour, but their dresses beneath are olive, burgundy,
peach and beige respectively. As the wives see all their guests are
ready, they great them by simultaneously putting a hand to the heart
and bowing towards their guests. Karima, Sultana and Martha bow
likewise. Martha starts her recorder. Then the burgundy wife says in
Pashto with a voice muffled greatly "I'm Zakia, first wife of sheik
Rashid al Abdul, welcome to our home. I always welcome our guests and
normally lead the conversation, but today Ellen is allowed to speak on
her own in English. Ellen please!" There is a break, while Karima is
whispering a translation to Martha. Then the beige wife says in English
in a similarly muffled voice "Hi! Ellen speaking. When our husband was
told that a Muslim woman had travelled all the way from America to meet
me, he accepted we meet like this, which is how we meet all non-family
women approved by our husband. Martha you'll not be allowed to see me,
as we will not want to see you. I do not want to be photographed, not
even dressed like this, and I can't write you a letter to my parents,
as we believe women should not write, because writing is just another
way of expressing a personality, which is reserved for the husband.
This is why we also speak with voices muffled. All this has nothing to
do with my parents, we are like this to everybody. But today you can
see for yourself a little about how we live, and I will tell you some.
This you can pass on to my parents. And if you want to ask specific
questions, please do. There are no taboos. I won't be offended. But of
course I may not answer." During Ellen's talk Karima has gathered the
three wives, who listen to her low voiced translation. Martha says
"Thank you very much for letting us visit. You must tell your husband,
we're very grateful he accepted us and especially me. I am Muslim and
knows of course, that many of my Muslim sisters don't like to have
their personalities shown to unknown people through photographs or
otherwise. As you said, I will report to your father what I see and
hear today. That is it. The most important to your parents must be,
that I found you alive and happy. To show that we really appreciate
this meeting, I have done like we would do in the U.S. and brought a
present. There was of course the possibility of chocolate or flowers,
but I wanted something that lasted longer. Our hosts here in Kandahar,
Sultana's family, were enthusiastic about these fashion magazines. I
hope you will enjoy them as well."
Saying this Martha brings forward her plastic bag with the magazines
and hands the most recent to Ellen. Then she walks in front of Zakia,
and with a bow hands her the next magazine. And then the other two
wives get one as well. Now it shows their hands and arms are covered in
long black satin gloves reaching above the elbows. After looking at the
front page for half a minute Zakia says a short command and Ellen says
"I've been ordered to translate." Zakia says translated by Ellen
"Martha these fine presents from you forces me to interrupt Ellen and
say something on behalf of all of us. I've heard of this magazine, and
even seen it when visiting a rich family. This is known to be a quality
publication not violating our customs, unlike all the Western fashion
magazines showing naked women. But we have never been able to spend so
much on personal luxury, that we could afford to buy one. Now we got
one each, and as they are different issues, I guess we will let them
circulate after a while. We weren't sure how long you would stay today,
but now you have to accept to have lunch with us." While Zakia has
talked, Martha has noted how Azra and Habiba have browsed their
magazines eagerly. And as hoped they seem not to be able to clearly see
the pages, as they move the magazines close to and away from their
faces searching for a distance where the eyes will focus through the
burqa mesh and the veil that can be glimpsed behind. They have to look
at the magazines before going to bed, where Martha expects they are
unveiled. Martha says "Ellen please translate this. We haven't
discussed this. But I think none of us are in any particular hurry. And
considering how long it takes to get back to where we stay, it will be
a very late lunch, if we don't eat here. Of course we will gladly
accept. Perhaps I can even persuade Karima and Sultana to help you with
the preparations, while we take a little walk around the house. I would
like to see everything, so I can describe Ellen's surroundings more
precise. But as the rest of you probably all know how an Afghan house
like this is laid out, I won't bother all of you with my questions."
Karima and Sultana have nodded and follow the three Afghan wives to the
kitchen.

Ellen says "Should we follow and have a look at the kitchen first?"
"Yes please," Martha answers. The kitchen is quite large. They could
easily eat in there, if they wanted. The maid is of course already
working on the lunch. There won't be much to do for five women, but
they'll find something to chat about, Martha guesses. As they turn back
to the living room Martha asks "Do you eat here with your husband, or
do you carry all his food all the way to the male section on the other
side of the yard?" Ellen says "Our husband rarely enters the female
section, and then only after announcing it clearly. It means we can
always have female guests, without them having to worry that a man
suddenly enters the room. Our husband only enters, if something needs
repair, or if he has to address us, while having visitors himself.
Everything he and his guests eat or drink is carried out to him, but it
is always done by the maid, as we rarely enter the male section without
being further covered. And here we have the bathroom for our guests.
The maid may use it as well. Now you know where to go before noon
prayer. Then there are four identical bedrooms. Would you like to see
all of them or just mine?" Martha says "If we don't risk seeing someone
unveiled, and your co-wives don't mind, it would be interesting to see
the differences. Then I can guess, which room belongs to you." Ellen
says "How considerate. Of course I will check they are all in the
kitchen and ask if they mind. But normally we walk in and out of all
rooms to borrow clothes from each other. When someone go into her room
to unveil, she locks the door, so we couldn't have opened a door to
find someone uncovered." After some moments in the kitchen doorway
Ellen returns and opens the leftmost door. As expected from seeing the
kitchen, the bedrooms are quite large as well. Each bedroom has its own
bathroom and the bed is a normal double bed. Here around noon the room
is brightly lid from a quite large opening without glass, but with
shutters. The kitchen was similarly lid Martha now recalls. Through the
opening part of a garden about five meters deep is seen before the
premises end at the obligatory wall, that surround all houses, and
ensures the women can see the sky without being viewed themselves. They
walk into the next room, which is nearly identical, before Martha says
"What lovely large rooms. And a large bed. Does this mean your husband
spend his nights in each of these rooms in turn?" Ellen says "No, as I
said he rarely enters the female section. There is a master bedroom,
where we women go in turn. There is a small corridor between the male
and the female section. The master bedroom is accessed from there,
meaning both we and our husband can enter the master bedroom without
entering the other section." In the third room Martha says "There is
such a lovely green area outside these rooms, but there are no doors.
Is it part of a garden, where you can walk?" Ellen says "You can walk
out there. There is a small door in the kitchen. But first of all it is
not so lovely, because none of the plants are large enough to bring
shadow. And then it is not allowed without checking and locking all the
bedrooms, because as you can see, anyone out there would be able to see
in here. The plants are there to give a nice view and to bring fresh
oxygen. We have a lady cleaning, and she locks the bedrooms to work
undisturbed and allow the floors to dry. When she is finished with all
four rooms, she spend some time attending the garden. Of course you
could close the shutters, when using the room, but then much of the
idea of an opening giving a sun-lighted room is gone. Actually the
shutters are only closed, when it gets really cold at night, a few
months a year." They continue to the last room. Except for a different
subdued colour on the wall, slightly differently coloured tiles and
different patterns on the carpets, all the rooms are identical, as if
they were furnished and decorated before someone moved in. Martha says
"It's not easy guessing, which room belongs to you, as there are no
personal items to be seen, and it doesn't seem any of you have changed
the original paint or furniture. And unlike any bedroom in the U.S.
there are of course not any photographs here from your wedding or
showing children. Which reminds me, how come there are four wives and
no children?" Ellen says "But there are. Both Zakia and Azra have a boy
each. But the boys are fourteen and fifteen and like their father have
to stay out of the female section. They come home to sleep and often to
have dinner, but are rarely home at lunch. Of course their mother's
meet them regularly, but Habiba and I only meet them, if our husband
has something to say to all of us. And I can't really decide, if I want
a child, so I use pills. Habiba is still young. She haven't been
married for a year yet. But if you had looked in the bathrooms, or in
the closets of course you would have found personal items. But now tell
me, which room is mine?" Martha says "I'll bet it was the previous
room." Ellen says "Fantastic! You're right. Did you notice my old teddy
bear peeping out under the bed cover? Him and the t-shirt you got
yesterday, are the only things I brought with me, when I left my
parents. Would you like to see him?" Martha says "Yes please. Maybe
there is something particular, that your parents will recognize. But I
didn't notice the bear. I just guessed the first wife has the first
room next to the kitchen, and as number three you have the third room."

They go back to Ellen's room, and Ellen brings forward the stuffed
animal. Martha says "It's lovely. I had one very similar, when I was a
child. It certainly brings back memories. But Ellen, I hope you won't
report it, but I carry a small camera, because before we met I hoped I
would be able to bring a photograph of you home to your parents. Now I
know it's against your beliefs, but perhaps you'll allow me to make a
picture of the teddy in stead. And then they can see your personal room
as well?" Ellen is very hesitating. Martha continues "I know the camera
is illegal according to Afghan law. But this is just a man made law. It
is only photos of living creatures, which are not allowed, according to
some Muslim scholars. We do not violate that. Please! It will make your
parents so much more happy, that they can actually see a little of what
I will describe in words." Ellen says "Ok. You're right, they'll like
it. But we don't tell the others about this. I'll lock the door, while
the camera is visible." Martha places the teddy in the middle of the
bed facing the window, and then puts the fashion magazine on the bed in
front of it saying "With this new magazine I can prove this is a new
picture, and not something I took back in the States. If you stand in
the doorway to the bathroom you are behind the lens, and will not be
seen." But Martha moves along the wall until the teddy is a little to
the left in the picture, and the full length mirror to the right of the
bed shows at the right side of the picture frame. And in the mirror a
fine blue burqa with a beige dress beneath is seen partly from the
side. Putting the camera away again Martha says "Thank you. I know you
parents will value this small violation of Afghan law. But now I would
like to see the male part of the house as well, if this is possible."
Ellen says unlocking the door "It is, because as I told you neither the
boys nor my husband are often home for lunch. But I'll ask the maid to
be sure. Wait here."

After a minute Ellen returns with what looks like to be Martha's burqa
saying "It's ok, and lunch is ready in ten minutes. But we'll just walk
around having a quick look in each room. You'll wear your burqa flipped
back, and I will as always out there silence myself and wear the burqa
you saw yesterday, but with the blinding flap lifted. If someone
unexpectedly arrives pull your burqa down, and then we'll have to wait
for the maid to guide us back. Questions about the male section have to
wait until we're back here." Martha has to put her burqa on completely
to have it sit right, and is deaf and blind for some seconds, before
she flips the front and the hood back. Meanwhile Ellen has gagged
herself with a scarf, which lets Martha see she just puts her full
length white silk burqa on top of her blue burqa. Even though she has
lifted a blinding flap, she can't have much sight left. They walk
through the inner yard and through the female reception room, where
they were sitting yesterday. Then, as Ellen had told, they enter a
corridor, which they for now walk directly through. At the other end
they enter the entrance hall. Except for the door leading to the
street, the room has only one other door to their right. Through this
door they enter the male reception room. This room is furnished like
the female living room with carpets, low tables and lots of cushions.
It is open towards another inner yard as least as big as the women's.
At the other end is only a wall with three doors. At the leftmost door
Ellen grabs the handle through her burqa, like with the other doors she
has opened, but this time the door is locked. She turns towards Martha
and shakes her head. The next room is a bedroom with a large double bed
and an adjoining bathroom much like the wives have, but perhaps a
little larger. It is completely clean and tidy like it isn't used. And
there are no personal items visible here either. It makes Martha think
of a hotel, and not a room in a private house. Definitely very
different from an American teenage boys room. The next room, again like
the rooms of the wives, differ only from the previous by slightly
different colours. With that kind of rooms it doesn't surprise Martha,
they spend very little time at home. Or is it the other way around? The
rooms have no personal touch, because they are not much at home. They
walk back through the yard, and to show everything Ellen opens the last
door in the male reception room shortly to reveal a bathroom for male
guests of course. Then they walk back to the corridor to the female
section, to see the room they skipped on their way out. The master
bedroom is the reason why Martha wanted to see the entire house. It is
of course larger than even the rooms of the boys. The bed doesn't look
larger, but perhaps it is, it just doesn't look larger in a larger
room. Of course there is an adjoining bathroom larger and more
luxurious than any of the other. There is a large closet and a mirror
like in the other bedrooms, but part of the additional floor space in
the corner against the bathroom wall is occupied by a low table and a
number of cushions. A place to talk, eat, wait or all of it, Martha
wonders. And then like the other bedrooms it has an opening with
shutters facing a piece of green before the outer wall blocks all
horizontal view. Martha has noted the corridor was opposite the house
entrance, and as this opening is opposite the bedroom door, it means
the outer wall here is at right angles to the street. Could it be a
side-street or an alley? They haven't spend two minutes in the master
bedroom, when Martha nods her head approvingly, and they go back to the
women living room. Immediately the maid takes her burqa, while Ellen
goes to her room to remove hers.

Prayer rugs have been placed in a line on the floor, which makes Martha
go to the bathroom to wash for prayer. As soon as they are all
assembled including the maid, they form a line along the rugs, and
Zakia leads ten minutes of prayer. Next they sit down to eat. While the
guest only have to lift their niqabs a little to get access to their
mouth, the wives have to lean forward to make the front of their burqas
hang out from their body. Then first their left hand has to lift the
edge of the burqa a little to let the right hand with the food inside
the burqa without touching it, and then they move their left hand up
under the burqa to lift their inner veils. After they have been eating
for some minutes in silence, Martha feels it's ok to take a break. She
says to Ellen sitting next to her "It was a very interesting tour. You
have of course noticed as well, but I must say that the rooms of the
boys are totally different from American teenagers." Ellen, now with a
much clearer voice than previously, says "Afghanistan in general is
totally different from the U.S. That's one of the reasons I like it so
much here. But if American teenagers had a cleaning woman every day,
and a maid to check the room, when they had left, some differences
would not exist. By the way the third room, that is locked, is our
husbands private room. What is in there or what he does in there, I do
not know." Martha says "Of course he doesn't have to go into a bedroom,
if he wants privacy. But speaking about bedrooms, do you have breakfast
or candle light dinner with your husband at that cosy table arrangement
in the master bedroom?" Ellen says "It is very rarely we have breakfast
with our husband after a night together. But there are fruits, snacks
and sodas on the table each night. If our husband wants to talk, we sit
there for some time before going to bed. And if he needs a snack or
refreshment, he sits down and we often talk meanwhile. And then we wait
there. The woman to spend the night in the master bedroom has to be
there at least half an hour before our husband is expected. It must not
happen that he feels like going early to the bedroom, and then he has
to wait for the wife. After bathing and beautifying ourselves for the
night at our own room, we cover to be able to walk to the master
bedroom. Then we uncover and spend a little time in the bathroom there,
correcting what have been messed by the clothing, and perhaps making
some finishing touches to the makeup. But apart from that there is only
to wait." Martha says "It sounds like your hair and perhaps more is
uncovered in the bedroom?" Ellen says "Yes very much so. When sleeping
alone we are very much covered, because there are no one awake, not
even other women, to protect us against possible intruders. But with
our husband we are protected, and he fully make use of, that he is the
only one allowed to see how Allah has created us completely. We do not
wear sleep-wear in the master bedroom." Martha says "Yes Islam is very
liberal, when it comes to the relationship between people, who are
lawfully married." The maid brings fresh dishes, and for a while they
concentrate on eating once more. Martha says "But what do you think
about only being with your husband every fourth night he is at home? If
I had a husband, I would like him to be beside me every night. Not
necessarily for sex, but just knowing you can reach him by rolling over
must be nice, if you wake in the middle of the night after a bad
dream." Ellen says "I had some boyfriends I slept with every night for
some time before I met Nazrullah. When it got serious between Nazrullah
and me, we slept together each night for a while. But then it got
really serious, and I married him and had to share him with Karima. Now
it's down to every fourth night. But then it's more exiting, when it
actually happens. And because there is a tradition of spending a lot of
time preparing the meeting, you have much more time for yourself the
other nights. The actual time alone in bed is no problem, as we are
covered so heavily that we nearly faint asleep within minutes after
laying down. And then you just surface, when the maid comes in the
morning." Martha says "Like so much else here it's very different from
what we are used to. But what do you actually do those long evenings,
you are not with your husband. What are you thinking about doing
tonight for instance?" Ellen says "We mostly do one of three things:
Pray, read religious material or discuss religious matters. If one of
us has read an answer from a Mullah, about how to behave in a given
situation, and can't understand his answer, we talk about the case with
the two other wives sleeping alone. But Habiba is too young to take
interest in that kind of discussions, so most discussions are on her
night with our husband. It's a while since our last discussion, and
when thinking of it, it's because it's Habiba tonight. It means tonight
we'll pray for an hour, read for an hour and discuss for an hour.
Fridays there's more praying, and when Habiba is present, it's less
serious. You didn't do religious discussions as a teenager, did you?"
Martha says "No, I keep forgetting there is a large age difference,
when all I see is a burqa. But I'm very happy about what you have just
told me, because it means I can tell your parents, that you don't waste
your time on cheap novels, daydreaming, TV-soaps or even worse things
such as booze, drugs or random men." Ellen says "That's right we only
care about securing a good life for eternity, supporting our husband in
keeping a family, and seeing a few female friends now and then. The
last man I saw, except Rashid, was Nazrullah when he divorced me."

They keep talking for another hour, but then Karima says she has to
leave. She won't be able to meet them again this time, because
Nazrullah and her are going back to Kabul tomorrow. But how could they
stay in touch? Ellen says "As you know we do not write. But you're
welcome to write to me. Just write our husband only on the envelope. I
don't know our address, but a man must be able to find out. But perhaps
when all boys in town can guide us home, it's enough writing: Sheik
Rashid al Abdul, Kandahar. Then he will write a few lines, after
talking with us, addressed to Nazrullah. We can't bother him too often
with this, but if big things happen like Habiba giving birth, or if we
move, I promise I will remember you. Martha, perhaps my parents can do
the same. After you have explained to them how I live, they might want
a letter from time to time, even if it's not from me personally. I
don't think our husband like to receive or send letters to America, but
if it is send to Karima, she can put it in an envelope, which Nazrullah
can send and the other way around." Karima nods. Martha says "I think
it's goodbye for me and Sultana as well. Nur Muhammad has probably
finished his business in Kandahar, while we have been here. And from
Kabul I'll go to Pakistan, and then back to your parents. But I'm very
happy I can bring them the good news they hoped for. I'm sure they
would have liked a picture as well, but they must respect you have
different beliefs now. For several minutes they all hug each other.
Then the maid is ready with their burqas. Within seconds the company of
happy chatting women is replaced by silence and darkness for a long
time. Martha has got such a good grip of walking blind and guided, that
she is able to evaluate her assignment on their way back to Sultana's
sister. She is 99.9 percent sure she has met and talked with Ellen. She
has recorded her muffled voice, which may have her characteristics
extracted from the recording to uniquely identify her. But she's not
sure Senator Jasper has a recording to compare with. She has seen a
video from her wedding, but she is not sure Ellen said more than a few
words. She has to have the final proof, and she knows how it can be
done. If there is an alley on the right side of the house. And if she
involves Sultana's brother-in-law the risk will be very small.

7. Ninety-nine won't do

Back at the house of Sultana's
sister Martha asks Nur Muhammad to go to the sheik's house and find
out, if there is an alley along the right side of the house. Only half
an hour later he is back with a positive answer. It seems to lead into
a quarter of very poor houses. With this information Martha brings
together everybody in the house asking Nur Muhammad to translate
carefully. She says "I want you to help me in doing something, which
will make Ellen's parents very happy. It's illegal, but it's only a
minor offence, and I don't think you risk going to jail. But it's also
offending and respect-less, but if we succeed no one will find out.
Because, I think it's the only way we can give Ellen's parents peace in
mind, I think it's justified. Besides I will reward you with a large
sum of money, if we succeed, and cover your expenses, if we get
caught." Of course this makes Sultana's sister, the co-wife and her
husband gasp, but without understanding Pashto Martha is soon sure they
will accept. The economic benefit would make most people accept many
days in jail, even if Martha finds it unlikely in this case, without of
course exactly knowing Afghan law. Martha has started smiling before
Nur Muhammad has translated their acceptance. She says "Thank you. We
have plenty of time I think. Because the incident has to take place
late in the evening in three days. In the meantime I need some black
clothes, some strong but thin black gloves, and twenty feet of thin
strong rope. That's all. If it's possible to get food brought or fetch
it somewhere, I'll buy our dinner tonight as an extra bonus." While Nur
Muhammad translates, the brother-in-law gets up saying a few words, and
they both leave. Sultana says "He said of course we can find a boy that
will bring food, but if we want the best at the right price, it's
better to select it yourself." They spend an enjoyable evening
together, because now that they are accomplices, they all eat together.
Martha forgets for a time, she is in the extremely strict Kandahar, and
feels like home in a company of mixed sexes.

Getting the stuff poses no problems for inventive Afghan men like Nur
Muhammad and the brother-in-law. They buy some suitable fabric, and the
women make the clothes for Martha. The worst problem is that they have
to wait for so long. All the items are soon ready, but they can only do
rehearsals late in the evening. Martha is eager to get in action, but
can't do anything but wait in the house. Because it's Kandahar, she
can't even go out jogging, or go somewhere where her mind is
distracted. Both Sultana and she has to browse the Iranian fashion
magazines to relax. And the last morning Martha wants so much to get
out, that she asks Nur Muhammad to guide her around in the streets for
half an hour. Martha is blind, deaf and mute, but she is outside the
house.
Then finally it's the right time. Sultana dresses as usual for going
out. Martha puts on the dress made for the occasion, and her own
sneakers painted black. On top of that she puts the Kandahar burqa,
which hides everything, as long as she doesn't lift the hem or take
large steps revealing the tips of the shoes. The brother-in-law carries
the rope, because Nur Muhammad has to guide both the two women. In case
they meet a patrol, it would cause trouble, if the brother-in-law is
seen with his hands on a woman not his wife. And now is not the right
time to cause a stir, or get delayed in any way. As usual Martha hates
walking blind and deaf, but today her mind is occupied with what will
take place, and then it's much cooler at this time of the day. After
what Martha finds is an eternity, but actually is less than half an
hour they stop. A minute later her burqa is lifted. Quickly she pulls
it off and puts it on Sultana on top of the one, she is already
wearing. She will soon be suffocating and close to fainting, but they
have found it better and faster to put it on her, than putting it in a
large suspicious bag. And during their rehearsals Sultana didn't faint.
As soon as the second burqa on Sultana completely covers the first, the
brother-in-law leans towards the wall, where they stand. Martha, now an
agile completely black shadow, climbs up to stand on his shoulders. He
straightens, and Martha can climb up on the wall, and jump down in the
garden on the inside. It's an evening with plenty of moonlight, and
Martha can easily see the opening to the master bedroom thirty feet to
her left, where a little light comes out. Fortunately there are no
other openings on this side of the house. She looks down to avoid
tripping or hitting something that could make noise, while slowly
approaching the opening. Just before she is able to look into the room
the light goes out. She has tested the moonlight as only light source
the previous nights without problems, but the risk of being seen from a
dark room is much greater than from a lighted, from which everything
outside would have seem black. But Martha stays out of the direct
moonlight in the shadow of the wall. And she doesn't go directly in
front of the opening. She stays at the side, where she has the best
view of the bed. At her interrogation at the lunch Ellen had given her
the right information. It is her spending the night with the sheik. She
haven't changed much from the photos Martha has seen. And they haven't
gone to sleep, when the lights were turned out. They are having fun.
Martha clicks her camera a number of times to be sure she catches
Ellen's face. And hopefully the fashion magazine, but she can't see
what is on the bedside table. Martha is happy for Ellen, she's having
such a good time with her husband, but she doesn't wait to see for how
long they are having fun. Just as cautiously she walks back to where
she jumped down. She finds a small piece of rock, and throws it close
over the wall. Shortly after the end of a rope is thrown over on her
side. She climbs the rope, and from the top of the wall jumps down in
the alley. They are alone. While taking the few steps to Sultana, she
makes a V-sign to the brother-in-law, still sitting on the ground from
acting as counterweight for the rope. Nur Muhammad is down on the
corner watching for by passers, and if someone should turn up he will
be trying to delay them. After having pulled her own burqa off Sultana,
her finger draws a V on her chest, before she puts the burqa on
herself. Meanwhile the brother-in-law has curled up the rope, and
walked to fetch Nur Muhammad. It's a long walk back, but Martha is
filled with joy by the successful event. She is confident that the
pictures will come out well. She has to be, because Nur Muhammad has
found it too risky to have the film developed in Kandahar. They go back
to Kabul tomorrow. There is no second try.

For once Martha isn't completely unhappy with having to dress in the
Kandahar burqa. First of all, it will be the last time, and second
after a late night high on adrenalin, she can sleep the day away. When
she is shaken, they are close to the village, and change to the normal
burqa before spending a pleasant evening and night there. Arriving in
Kabul mid afternoon the following day, Martha has asked Nur Muhammad to
drive directly to the photo lab. They pay for instant service, and
Sultana and Martha eats sandwich and drinks cola under their burqas,
while they wait in the car. Two hours later Nur Muhammad comes back
saying "I don't think the Senator and his wife will put these pictures
in the family album, but one thing is sure: Ellen looks very happy."

Postscript.

This story has been greatly inspired by reading Caravans by James A.
Michener. A story taking place in the late nineteen fifties about an
American diplomat Mark Miller getting assigned to find the daughter of
Senator Jasper, Ellen, who has married Afghan Nazrullah and moved with
him to Afghanistan. Travelling through Afghanistan he finds that Ellen
has left Nazrullah to follow a nomad tribe and has a love affair with
it's leader. Mark finds the tribe and Ellen, and travels with them
until a diplomatic solution for Ellen is found.

Writing a story about veiling, I couldn't follow Michener's storyline,
because Ellen moves from city high class life, where women veil, to a
free and unveiled life with the tribe, where they pity the veiled women
of towns and villages.

Second I have moved the story in time from the fifties to ten years out
in the future, because then the trend was a slow Westernisation and
less veiling, peaking during the Soviet rule in the eighties. From then
till now has been war and occupation, which is not a good background
for a happy story. So I assume a period of peace coming, where
traditional stricter moral gains again. An inspiration for this has
been 'Making the Best of a Bad Job' by Michelle, to be read at Tales of
the Veils. Moving a story about Afghanistan some decades in time
doesn't make that much of a difference, because Michener describes
Afghanistan in the fifties like a place, where a lot of things doesn't
seem to have changed since the time of Christ.

Last Michener tells about his research to find the right English
spelling for Afghan words. He calls the outer garment of Afghan women
'chadouri' , which is a close approximation of what the Afghans say and
resembling the Iranian 'chador'. But because this word after the
Iranian revolution has been linked to the open non-face covering black
cape worn in Iran, I have chosen to use the word 'burqa' now commonly
used in Western media.